Older people in north Suffolk care homes could benefit from �60m of county council funding to provide new homes and wellbeing centres.

Home care provider Care UK has been working with Suffolk County Council on plans to replace 16 residential homes and eight community wellbeing centres with 10 purpose-built homes and wellbeing centres.

The investment, which could be agreed by the council's cabinet on October 16, is set to benefit care homes in Beccles, Lowestoft, Eye, Mildenhall and Bury St Edmunds.

Care homes at Blyford Court and Stradbroke Court, Lowestoft are set to be replaced by a residential home and wellbeing centre at Roman Hill Primary School in Lowestoft, scheduled to open in June 2014.

The Dell care home in Beccles will also be closing and moving to the new Roman Hill home, while in Eye Paddock House will also replaced at an as yet undecided location, with the new home opening in September 2014.

In Mildenhall, Wamil Court will be replaced by a new care home at the former Great Heath Primary School in St John's Close, opening in April 2014, while in Bury St Edmunds Glastonbury Court will be replaced by February 2016.

The work is being carried out because many of the care homes were built in the 1960s when care needs were much different.

Statistics show the number of older people in Suffolk aged 75 and over is expected to increase by 85pc by 2030 and the number of older people with dementia is expected to increase by 100pc in the same period.

Councillor Colin Noble, cabinet member for health and adult care, said: 'Our commitment and focus to ensure we get the best possible care and facilities for Suffolk people, remains as strong as ever.

'By transferring our care homes and wellbeing centres to Care UK we will attract a significant amount of investment that otherwise would simply not be available.

'The most vulnerable in society deserve the very best we can provide them - this deal represents that.'

All permanent members of staff at the existing homes will transfer to Care UK. The new homes are designed to provide bigger rooms.