A DEMENTIA care home is set to add 15 bedrooms if planning permission is granted by councillors.

The application for Linden House in Lymington seeks to extend the building to provide care for more people and add further communal areas to support the increased number of bedrooms.

The proposed work would see four new dormer windows on the front elevation of the building and one additional dormer window on the rear elevation.

The 60-bed care home, which opened in 2014, is managed by Colten Care.

The plans go before New Forest District Council's planning committee on Thursday and their planning officer''s report recommends the application for approval.

"Overall, the proposed development would be a socially beneficial development that would provide additional dementia care, and it would be economically beneficial in providing additional employment opportunities," the report says.

"The development would be well designed and could be provided without adversely affecting the character and appearance of the area, or the amenities of adjacent properties. The impact on highway safety would also be acceptable."

The proposal has gone to committee because Lymington and Pennington Town Council are against the application.

The Highway Authority gave no reason to object the plan, whilst the development does not meet the NFDC's recommended one parking space per four residents and one per member of staff.

Despite this factor, the officer's report says the nature of the care home, its town centre location and the character of the High Street mean it is believed the proposal would not have an impact on highway safety through a lack of on-site parking.

A decision will be made on the proposal at NFDC's planning development control committee on Wednesday.