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The first group of people to live in Elizabeth House in Victoria Drive has moved in from a home in East Preston. Their premises are being rebuilt.

They shortly will be joined by the residents of Warmere Court care home in Yapton.

This will see the 60 bedrooms in Elizabeth House fully used for the first time.

Work on the three-storey home with 42 beds for the elderly mentally infirm and 18 private beds began in March 2006. Its design features include special areas for residents to meet and socialise.

All the rooms have en-suite bathrooms and are arranged in groups of ten, with dining and communal areas.

The elderly people from Warmere Court will be staying in the new property while their home is demolished and rebuilt. Its size will increase from 36 to 40 bedrooms. An eight-place day centre will be attached. Villagers have twice protested strongly to keep it open.

After they return to Yapton, Elizabeth House will then see the residents of 44-bed King's Haven Care Home in Pagham move in permanently.

King's Haven will shut for good because it fails to meet new European care home standards. Its site of less than half an acre is set to be put up for sale.

Elizabeth House's opening is the latest stage in a 63m joint project between West Sussex County Council and Shaw Healthcare to update residential care in the county.

It is part of the council's transfer - from March 2005 - of 16 residential homes for older people to Shaw. The project will be completed in two years.