Members of Aberdeen City Council’s education and children’s services committee have agreed to progress plans for a replacement Rosehill Day Centre on the site of the former Burnside Centre on Mastrick Drive.

Building work is projected for completion in December 2016, with a view to an official opening later in the month.

The replacement facility will be a high quality specialist day centre for around 80 people with severe physical disabilities and learning disabilities.

The aim is to create a one-stop-shop service, with office space for 40 professional staff from Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian.

In 2010, two of the three remaining day centres in Aberdeen for people with learning disabilities closed, leaving Rosehill Day Centre as the only one remaining.

The decisions were taken in line with policy to provide more ordinary life opportunities as opposed to building-based services, but it was recognised that those with profound disabilities would still require a day centre facility.

The existing Rosehill Day Centre is no longer considered suitable, with a lack of specialist equipment, poor access, no scope for expansion and upgrades required for the toilet and changing facilities.

The project forms part of the city council’s Non-Housing Capital Programme for 2015/16 that was approved on February 5, 2015.

Councillor Angela Taylor, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s education and children’s services committee, said: “I think this is a really good news story for the council.

“We are providing a centre for around 80 vulnerable adults with severe learning and physical disabilities, a state-of-the-art facility that will act as a one-stop shop for service users.

“It is also the result of close partnership working with NHS Grampian, and the fact that it is due for completion in December 2016 is great news for the city.”