A 70-BED care home planned for the site of a former wartime factory near Ellesmere Port has been given the go-ahead.

Plans were submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council for the development on the former Roften Works site in Hooton, immediately to the west of Hooton Railway Station.

Construction of a nearby residential housing development was already under way by Stewart Milne.

Planning applicants Asteer Planning, submitting the application on behalf of Seddon Developments Ltd, said the principle of a care home being built on the site had already been approved in 2018, but a fresh application had been submitted as there were changes to the layout and appearance of the site from that originally proposed.

The proposed 70-bed care home features amenity gardens, ground floor bedrooms with access to private external patios, with a shared community space to include a café, garden room, pub/sports bar, hair salon, activity room, family room and cinema.

Support facilities within each resident unit include a nurse station, medication store, assisted bathroom, wheelchair store, sluice and assisted WC.

All bedrooms would come with en-suite shower wet rooms, while other facilities include a kitchen and associated accommodation, laundry, staff room, staff changing room and WCs and office space.

The proposals would be supported by a total of 24 car parking spaces, including two spaces for the mobility impaired and two EV charging points.

The applicants added Seddon developments have, in the past, been responsible for such developments as Telford Court in Crewe and Sutton Grange in Southport.

Care would be provided by Sandstone Care Group, a new dynamic care home group offering services to both nursing and residents within Wales and the north west of England.

Sandstone Care currently operates six care homes, including a purpose-built 73-bedroom luxury nursing and residential home in Powys and Ribble Court near Preston.

The site was once home to Roften Works, which acquired its name as it was the Royal Ordnance Factory No.10, which made anti-aircraft guns during the Second World War.

A planning officer noted concerns had been raised by Chester Cycling Campaign on the position, security and capacity of the proposed cycle storage, while Hooton and District Residents Association requested that hedging and trees were used to screen the development along Hooton Road, and for the outlined fencing not to be placed along the road frontage.

The officer concluded: "The provision of an additional care residential facility, contributing towards the accepted need for such accommodation in the locality, is considered acceptable."

The council approved the plans, subject to conditions and submission of details including external facing materials for the development, along with secure covered cycle parking and electric car vehicle charging infrastructure.