Stranraer dementia facility and youth foyer given green light

Loreburn Housing Association has been given the go-ahead by Dumfries and Galloway Council to build dementia-friendly housing alongside an innovative ‘Youth Foyer’ on the site of the former Garrick Hospital in Stranraer.The proposals, which were designed by Aitken Turnbull Architects, will see the creation of eight one-bed and four two-bed ‘extra care’ dementia-friendly homes. New parking spaces for 37 vehicles will also be created on the site.Built alongside the new homes, the Youth Foyer will offer supported accommodation for up to 12 young people, in order to combat youth homelessness and to increase employment and opportunity.Youth Foyers, which are recognised as international best practice, provide safe and secure housing, support and training for young people aged 16 -25. The Stranraer Foyer will be a first for Dumfries and Galloway and only the second foyer in Scotland.Young people living at the Foyer will be expected to be either in education, an apprenticeship, other employment or training, and will have access to volunteering opportunities within the community.The Youth Foyer will also offer community access areas, a state of the art conference facility, breakout spaces and access to WiFi, creating a transformational space for Stranraer and Wigtownshire.