A NATIONAL care home group is investing £3.2 million in a project in York that will generate more than 100 jobs.

Southern Cross Healthcare is preparing for the opening next year of Amarna House in Rosetta Way.

The building, nearing completion, consists of four 20-bedded units for elderly people, either frail or mentally ill.

Already the post of manager has been advertised and as soon as he or she is in place, recruitment of more than 100 staff will begin.

The process is due to be completed in time for the New Year, when the first residents move in

This will be the second Southern Cross Healthcare home in the Greater York area. It is also responsible for Knavesmire Care Centre, which caters for 29 old people in a converted vicarage on The Green, Acomb.

Each unit at Amarna House will have its own specific category of residents and each will be equipped with its own lounge, dining room, quiet room and access to a secure garden area.

All the bathrooms will be equipped with specialist baths and each bedroom will have is own shower.

Service areas such as laundry, kitchen and staff rooms will be on the second floor to ensure that the accommodation areas are quiet and peaceful.

The project sits within a new residential and industrial area being built in Rosetta Way, and City of York Council has insisted on all names having an Egyptian theme. Amarna was an ancient Egyptian capital.

Southern Cross Healthcare, based in Darlington, is one of the largest private providers of long-term care in the UK and Amarna House is one of ten new homes planned for the UK at a total cost of about £30 million.

With growth and acquisition - it took over the Trinity Care Group in 2002 -it now operates 360 homes and employs 25,000 staff across England, Scotland and Wales.

John Murphy, Southern Cross's operations director, said the group was investing millions of pounds in new homes this year.

He said: "This will be our second care facility in York and is an excellent example of the type of facilities we want to provide for local communities.

"We are very proud of both Knavesmire, our existing home, and the new Amarna House, and we are confident they will play an important part in the provision of care services in York."

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, October 20, 2005