A FAMILY has been left devastated after being out bid on a former care home they hoped to transform into a “forever home” for their disabled daughter.

Greg Treadwell and his wife, Sarah Treadwell, from Hadleigh, attempted to buy the former Abbeyfield House care home, in Chapel Lane, but were outbid by Castle Point Council.

The family hoped to purchase the site and use its space and facilities to create a “forever home,” providing care for their four-year-old daughter, Lovelle.

Lovelle, who has cerebral palsy, requires constant care and is at continual risk of respiratory failure due to a severe oxygen complication at birth.

The family, who live in very close proximity to the care home, had been looking to move to meet Lovelle needs.

However, just when they believed they had found the perfect property, the family say they were outbid by Castle Point Council, who want to use it for temporary accommodation.

Last week the Echo revealed the authority had signed a £1.1 illion deal to purchase the former home and will carrying out a £500,000 project to renovate the property.

Greg said: “We were slightly outbid on the property by the council. We wanted to use it as our forever family home, providing sufficient space for our daughter and her nursery team along with easy ground floor access for emergency services.

“But we were told the council would pay whatever, so had to give it up. If given the chance we could have increased, but we felt powerless continually bidding against a council.

“We love where we live, but it is not ideal for our youngest daughter due to her needs.

“As she is getting bigger her physical needs are becoming higher, but Abbeyfield would have allowed us to remain in the area we want to live and staying within walking distance from family.

“Because of our daughter’s needs; it needs to tick a lot of boxes, and this was our forever home. We are gutted.”

During the purchase, the council explained that an “investment opportunity like this would otherwise be taken by the private market,” and “would be unlikely to provide the same benefits.”

Greg added: “This deal was made to prevent a private buyer; we were that private buyer.

“It is very difficult to find a property which can work for us and when we do, it is either outside of our budget or a developer snaps it up.

Castle Point Council has been contacted for comment.