SUE Ryder Care is searching for a new site in Ely after announcing it is pulling out of the Bishop s Old Palace. The charity, which has been based in the mediaeval building on Palace Green since 1984, is looking for a more modern building within the city

SUE Ryder Care is searching for a new site in Ely after announcing it is pulling out of the Bishop's Old Palace.

The charity, which has been based in the mediaeval building on Palace Green since 1984, is looking for a more modern building within the city or a site on which to put a purpose-built centre.

It is negotiating the sale of the building's 80-year lease with Ely's King's School, which will house sixth-form pupils and boarders in the Old Palace.

New legislation, which requires Sue Ryder Care to be able to offer all its residents single rooms, has led to the move from the Grade I-listed 15th Century building, which was once home to the bishops of Ely.

But the charity was keen to stress that it has no plans to leave the city.

Care centre manager Rachael Watts said: "We are not talking about closure. We are talking about relocation within the city and, if anything, expanding.

"We are looking at lots of sites at the moment and we would like to achieve the move by the end of 2008.

"But it will depend on whether we adapt an existing building or start from scratch."

King's School head Sue Freestone said the school hoped to begin a phased take-over of the building over the next academic year, which begins next month.