New Chapter for Former Model Care Home in Ballymoney as Redevelopment Plans Confirmed

A disused care home in Ballymoney could soon be brought back into use, subject to planning approval, after Woodgreen Healthcare confirmed it has acquired the former Model Care Home site.

Signage for the healthcare provider recently appeared outside the property, sparking speculation in the community. The company confirmed with us this morning that it has purchased the site and is moving forward with plans to modernise and extend the facility as part of a wider expansion across Northern Ireland.

Woodgreen Healthcare said the new care home will be upgraded to meet the high standards of its existing facilities, promising a "safe, high-quality, and supportive environment" for future residents.

Speaking to Explore Causeway Coast & Glens a spokesperson for the company said:

"This project is part of our broader expansion across Northern Ireland, and we’re proud to be bringing this investment to Ballymoney. The new facility will help meet growing care needs, support local hospitals, and bring a long-disused building back into meaningful use."

Planning preparations are underway, with a formal application expected to be submitted in the coming weeks.

If approved, the redevelopment is expected to create around 70 jobs, spanning care, management, administration, kitchen, laundry, domestic, and maintenance roles. The company has pledged to prioritise the recruitment of local people, aiming to create a team rooted in the community it will serve.

"We want this home to be staffed by members of the community it serves, helping ensure it becomes a familiar, trusted and valued part of the area," the spokesperson added.

The Model Care Home has been closed since 2022 and its future has remained uncertain—until now. The planned investment is being seen as a potential economic and healthcare boost for Ballymoney and the wider Causeway Coast & Glens area.

Councillor Darryl Wilson said, "This is a welcome development for Ballymoney and the wider community with the potential to provide desperately needed facilities for those in need, free up space in our hospitals, provide employment and see a disused building brought back to life."

Woodgreen Healthcare says it will work closely with the community and will provide updates as the project progresses.

The County Antrim care home closed in 2022 (Model Group NI Limited) after the regulator said it had "serious concerns" about its registration.