A Black Isle sheltered home is to be put up for sale, sparking concern from a community group who had hoped to take over running it for free.
The charity Abbeyfield Scotland confirmed that their Rosemarkie home Abbeyfield House is to go on the market, seeking a “funded bid” from a “registered care provider” to take over the operation.
The charity’s chief executive Niall Paterson said that closing the home was a “last resort”.
Campaign group Black Isle Supported Living (BISL) had been hoping to take over the running of the home in a free transfer and said that the charity’s decision buys them time to consider their position.
Abbeyfield House was run as a community concern for more than 30 years before being transferred to the charity in 2008.
However, the charity say that the home has been running at a loss for several years.
Abbeyfield Scotland will now open discussions with interested parties and regulators, with an aim of completing the process by August 2016.
The home currently houses six residents who will stay in the home and will be kept up to date during the process.
Mr Patterson said: “We are working on a plan to keep the house in Rosemarkie open. The board has a duty of care to all our residents and a legal responsibility to act in the best interests of the charity as a whole.
“We will do everything we can to find another registered care provider in a position to make a funded bid and provide the high level of care that both Abbeyfield Scotland and the regulatory bodies require.
“Closure will be only a last resort.”
BISL said that they had opened discussions with a local registered care provider about taking over the home in a partnership arrangement.
BISL chairman Gwyn Phillips said: “Today’s announcement simply buys us time.
“People should not consider the struggle over just yet as there is still reference here to a funded bid.”
He added: “Abbeyfield Scotland Ltd told us previously that only our group has expressed interest during the consultation period that ends today.
“This may mean that the board wish our community to start a fundraising campaign to buy back a house which the community owned and ran until seven years ago, and which was merged with Abbeyfield Scotland at zero cost.
“We will open negotiations with Abbeyfield Scotland Ltd with a view to doing our utmost to persuade them otherwise.”