PLANS to demolish a pair of houses in favour of a 72-bed residential care home in Ferndown have been given the green light.

Members of East Dorset District Council’s planning committee ignored the objections of Ferndown Town Council and approved the proposals for 14-20 Church Road.

The two detached houses currently on the plots are now set to be demolished to make way for the three-storey care home.

A marginally smaller development was approved for the site in 2016, however applicants Churchgate Ferndown Ltd sought permission to carry out a scheme, which altered the form and positioning of the new building.

It also featured an increase of three beds from the previous proposals.

Ferndown Town Council objected to the scheme, citing concerns over moving the building nearer to Church Road creating an unacceptable visual impact.

Members of the town council also had fears over the parking provision of just 23 spaces, which was eight less than the approved development, and an increased pressure on local services, primarily on doctors’ surgeries in the area.

Eight letters of objection were also received by the district council.

However, a planning officer recommended the scheme for approval and this was supported by the committee. Members voted eight in favour, with one abstention, of a proposal to give the application planning permission at a meeting on Wednesday.

The officer’s report said: “The proposal is considered a better design response than the approved scheme especially regarding its relationship with the neighbouring properties.

“It is considered the proposal is an improvement over the extant permission in terms of design and streetscape, the effect upon the amenity of adjacent occupiers and the living conditions of future occupants.”