An "under-occupied" Kingston care home for the elderly is set to close, the council has confirmed.

Murray House, in Acre Road, will shut its doors after the adults care and education committee reached the decision at a meeting on June 21.

It is said the facility is currently under-occupied because demand for residential care has “significantly reduced” in recent years.

In a statement, the council added: “We understand that this is a sensitive issue and, over the coming weeks, we will be working closely with residents and their families so we can find our permanent residents suitable places in new care homes.

“We will continue to treat our residents with dignity and respect.”

While Murray House is rated “good” across the board by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it is said to be “not cost effective” to refurbish the building to necessary standards or convert it into providing dementia care.

Existing permanent residents will also not be asked to contribute for their new alternative accommodation than they would have if they had remained at the closing home, the council insists.

The decision follows after a consultation was launched by the council earlier this year to understand the views of existing residents, families, partners organisations, and the public.

However, it appears Murray House will no longer exist as a residential home.

Previously, councillor Cathy Roberts, portfolio holder with responsibility for adult care at Kingston Council, said: “To meet the needs of our ageing population, we need to increase the capacity and range of adult social care provision in the borough.

“Although it provides good quality care, Murray House is currently under-occupied. There are only seven permanent residents living on a site originally intended to accommodate 38 older people.

“Our analysis also shows that in the future there will be increased need for specialist dementia residential and nursing care placements.

“Murray House cannot be converted to provide this type of care, and the council has agreed to build a new nursing dementia care home in Surbiton.”

She added the facility “does not provide” the type of accommodation expected of a “modern care environment, such as ensuite bathrooms.

Moreover, the costs to bring this in are “prohibited”.