The Press & Journal has said that the proposed development will include a 52-bed care home and 50 housing units with extra care on the greenfield site on the isle of Lewis.

The partners hope to identify a contractor in November and plan to be on site at Goathill Farm near Stornoway by December, allowing the build to be completed by September 2020.

Master planning for the site concluded that there is also scope to provide 62 affordable housing units on the land outwith the residential care and housing with extra care development.

A spokesman for the council told the Press & Journal: “Not only will these developments provide much needed facilities but also create an employment and economic boost for the Islands. These are exciting development opportunities and we would hope that local contractors respond positively to them.”

It is the intention to submit a full planning application by June.

At present the council and housing partnership are consulting with contractors on the best way to deliver the project.

Potential contractors are meeting with the project team at the beginning of this month.

Documents issued by the authority and the housing partnership state that they are trying to gauge interest across national, regional and local supply chain markets and seek expressions of interest from companies not only interested in the role of main contractor but also potential sub-contractors.