A hostel for people with learning difficulties looks set to be split up - with residents moved into houses throughout Basildon.
The run-down Mellow Purgess Hostel, in Laindon, fails to meet registration standards because of the poor decor and condition of the building.
After consultation with residents, their families and staff, a decision has been made to abandon the site and reprovide the service elsewhere.
Those residents affected have even been able to say where exactly they would like to live in Basildon.
Talks will now take place with Basildon Council to see if the plans, which have been agreed in principle by the county council, can go ahead.
The county council-run hostel - made up of four adjoining but separate houses - was set up in 1979 for adults with learning problems.
Longer stay residents take up 18 of the 24 places while six beds are used for respite breaks.
Short-break respite care will be moved over to a new development for people with profound disabilities in Langdon Hills from January.
The new unit will provide respite for the whole of south Essex.
The only other option open to the county council is to carry out work on the hostel to bring it up to standard - which would cost a considerable amount of money.
Current residents of Mellow Purgess were asked during consultation whether they would like to live in their own home, who they would like to live with and, in some cases, which part of Basildon they would like to live in.
The new service would aim to:
Keep friends together
Have access to local amenities (including a pub, wine bar, public transport)
Have access to recreation
Give individual care support which is adequate and appropriate
Give access to work opportunities
Give access to adequate Adult Education
Give access to health care.
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