A BRAND new 141 bed care home near Romsey and Southampton has been given the green light.

The proposal, put forward by the London-based company Hamberley Development Ltd, includes a 80-bedroom nursing home with a focus on nursing, personal and dementia care.

Developers will also build a 61-bedroom nursing home which will provide neurological rehabilitation services for individuals who require long-term support, rehabilitation, respite or short-stay care.

This will be run by the NHS.

Developers say could create up to 190 jobs.

The site also includes a new highway access from Frogmore Lane, landscaping and parking for 105 cars and 10 bicycles.

Proposals for the new care home, at Bargain Farm, Nursling, were set to go before planners last year.

It has been a two year battle to finally get their planning permission and in the report which said it was previously refused, the reasoning was: "The proposed vehicular access onto Frogmore Lane represents unjustified development in the countryside in that it has not been demonstrated that it is essential for the development to be located the countryside."

Head of the Southern Area Planning Committee, Councillor Mark Cooper, said: "This proposal is much better than the previously suggested use for this building which was B2 and B8.

"I think it will be a welcome and useful development for Test Valley Borough Council and the NHS.

"It was agreed unanimously and had a very positive reaction - there were a few questions about traffic congestion but permission has been granted for a Lidl nearby which will have a huge amount of traffic anyway and it will be significantly less than a care home

Overall I am very happy with the application."

As previously reported, the company said the chosen site is also in good proximity to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Southampton General Hospital and has access to public transport links.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, who represents Blackwater on the borough council, previously said: "As our population ages one of the challenges we have is finding sufficient space to provide safe and suitable housing for those needing care in their older age.

"I’m glad therefore that applications of this type are coming forward."