An application submitted by Care Concern, the future operator of Longbridge Deverill House in Warminster, has been approved by Wiltshire Council.

The care home will undergo a major internal transformation as its existing indoor swimming pool is removed and nine new bedrooms are built to contribute to growing local demand.

When complete, the home will consist of a total of 70 bedrooms arranged over three storeys.

The application states: “The facilities offered will include en-suite bedrooms with a range of excellent communal and amenity spaces incorporating a hairdressers, tea rooms, lounges and dining areas.

“All residents will benefit from communal amenity and comforting landscaped spaces, with all residents having access into the private garden spaces.”

The current indoor pool on the ground floor will be filled to form a new bulkstore, maintenance store, staff training room and archive store.

During the consultation period, one local resident objected to the proposal on the grounds of access, highways, amenity and disturbance.

There was no objection from Longbridge Deverill Parish Council.

The officer report concluded: “The proposed development is considered to provide a benefit in terms of the additional bedrooms addressing the local need for care beds and there is a slight benefit towards the five-year housing land supply arising from the scheme.

"The proposal represents an efficient use of land and the design is considered acceptable.”

It added: “Given that the proposals are mainly internal, the minor alterations externally are considered not to have an unacceptable impact on the landscape setting of the area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

The existing care home is located off the A350 Church Street in Warminster, approximately 2.7 miles south of the city centre, and has a total area of 3.4 acres.

It sits within the Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and holds a Grade II listed property, known as Longbridge Devrill House, in the north east corner of the grounds.

The home currently offers nursing care, specialist dementia care, respite care and palliative care.