PLANS have been submitted for a 80-bed care home in Old Malton.

The application, for land off Town Street, includes ancillary facilities, amenity areas, car parking and landscaping.

Howard Rogers, managing director of the applicants, Appledorn Developments Limited, said: “A demographic study has identified a shortfall in the number of care home beds needed in the area.

“This 80-bed care home will be of a very high standard designed to compliment the local area. The building will be square shaped with a central courtyard do people can go outside in a secure environment.”

Mr Rogers said the care home would be self-sufficient with its own kitchen and laundry.

“The plan is to use local businesses as much as possible for food produce and other supplies,” he said.

“We also intend to employ 80 people on a full-time and part-time basis.”

Mr Rogers said the development would take about 18 months to complete once planning permission was granted.

“Our aim is to keep local residents fully informed as to what we are doing at all times and we will be holding information sessions so they can come and talk to us.”

Malton Town Councillor Martin Dales, and a resident of Old Malton, said 15 years ago there was a planning application for a business park on the land, but work stopped on the site about 10 years ago.

Cllr Dales said many people had to go to Scarborough or York for residential care for elderly relatives, if no suitable space was available in Malton, Norton and Old Malton.

He said: “Then there are also the training opportunities which would available for our young people who are interested in working in the care/nursing sector. It can only be good for local job opportunities and to increase the pool of people working in the sector.

“The main problem, however, continues to be the provision of inadequate onsite parking for 27 cars, which in turn could affect nearby neighbours and have an impact on Town Street.

“The developer’s transport assessment talks of visitors and staff walking, cycling or getting a bus to the home; whilst a laudable suggestion, the reality is somewhat different as there is currently only an hourly Coastliner bus service to Pickering and south to Malton, which is often reduced in the winter timetable.

“In terms of the parking issue, there would seem to be plenty of land available for a greater provision of parking places to avoid overflow on to neighbours’ land and Town Street itself.

“Regarding local transport, the solution to this might be if the Malton to Norton town bus could be extended from Peasey Hills down to the Wentworth Arms which would then service this home and others and also provide mobility for the ever-growing population in Old Malton.”