A CARE home which was shut down five years ago and then proposed to be an asylum hostel will re-open as a brand new care facility in Widnes.

After three-and-half years of campaigning, The Lilycross Action Group have announce that The Lilycross Care Centre will be opening as a much-needed care facility in the near future.

The building on Wilmere Lane in Widnes was shut down over in 2015 by the Care Quality Commission after being branded inadequate in all services.

Amid great controversy, Serco won planning permission from Halton Council to convert the former Lilycross Care Centre in 2018 into an 'asylum hostel', but the company pulled out just weeks later for comercial reasons.

More than 2,000 had residents raised concerns over the development, about their safety, enforced sharing and whether the building was fit for purpose.

A spokesperson for The Lilycross Action Group said: “The new proprietors are in the process of adding the finishing touches to the building and are awaiting the inspection and approval from the CQC.

“When approved this will create up to 100 jobs, 97 more jobs than Serco proposed in the plans submitted and passed by Halton Borough Council for an asylum hostel.

“We are very happy with the outcome to keep a much-needed and wanted care facility in the area.

“We have met and discussed the plans for the building with the new proprietors and we wish them all the luck in the world to make this a successful and much-needed facility.

“More information will be available in the next few weeks.”