A CARE home for dementia patients which was forced to close after damning inspection reports could be turned into accommodation for asylum seekers if city planners give the move the green light.

Mack Residential have asked Glasgow City Council for permission to take over the property once occupied by Torbrae Care Home on Castlemilk’s Bogany Terrace to use as asylum seeker accommodation.

They want to provide accommodation for asylum seekers on a temporary basis. They would stay at the facility while their applications for asylum are considered and processed.

A statement said: “The number of temporary residents accommodated at any one time would be at a higher intensity than the 88-bed maximum occupancy of the dementia care home, up to 200 residents, owing to the diminished need for, for instance, ensuite bathrooms, accessible bedroom layouts and storage for personal possessions.

“It is broadly envisaged that the main wings of the building would be configured for specific groups of occupants, those being family groups/individuals with children, pairs of individuals and those travelling alone.”

Several years ago, Torbrae Care Home was issued with a formal improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate over failings in quality of care, management and staffing.

The Care Inspectorate also received dozens of complaints about Torbrae over an eight year period.

Amore Care, which ran the facility and looked after up to 88 older people with dementia, said it was unable to make the necessary improvements and the home closed in April, 2014. It has remained secure and unoccupied since then.

Under the new plans, the centre would be operated by AIRE around the clock with other organisations providing services including the NHS and City of Sanctuary movement.

A statement said: “The level and mixture of support afforded to residents would not be dissimilar to that of a typical care home.”

It added: “In terms of day-today facilities, the centre would provide on-site healthcare facilities with routine check-up procedures, central cooking and dining facilities, communal areas, and overarching administrative provision.”

The plans also state that there will be no significant alterations to the building exterior because the application relates to proposed use only.

A decision on the plans is expected by October 5.