A care charity has sold a £2.5m building it decided to close last year after discovering repairs and modernisation of the site could cost up to £7m.

Guild Care, based in Worthing, West Sussex, provides care for elderly residents and people with dementia while assisting children and young people with life-limiting disabilities and illnesses.

The charity started the process of closing its Dolphin Court site last May, resulting in 22 tenants moving on and a part-time employee being redeployed within the organisation.

The process has now been completed, with Guild Care saying it worked closely with each tenant to ensure a smooth transition into suitable alternative accommodation that best met their individual needs

“Guild Care is delighted to report that this process is now complete and feedback from tenants and their families has been overwhelmingly positive as they settle in well and embrace their new arrangements,” the charity said.

“The transition has been managed with the utmost care and professionalism to ensure minimal disruption for residents.”

The property was listed with a guide price of £2.5m on Rightmove. 

Guild Care, which declined to confirm how much the property sold for and who bought it, said the buyer planned to refurbish the building and let the properties on the private market. 

Warren Fabes, chief executive of Guild Care, said: “While it is never easy to say farewell to a long-standing part of our organisation, we take great pride in the way this transition has been handled – with integrity, kindness, and a steadfast commitment to our values.”