A developer has submitted a planning appeal to demolish a former nursing home in Church Lawton and construct 13 houses in its place.

Alsager Court Care Centre provided care for up to 29 residents in a one-storey building in Sandbach Road North, Church Lawton.

However, it closed in 2016 'due to the operation becoming financially unviable, largely because of its small scale'.

Since it shut, the building has remained out of use and has previously been labelled an 'eyesore'.

Malvern Homes' outline application to demolish the site and build a much larger, three-storey care home which would accommodate 60 people was turned down by Cheshire East Council's Southern Planning Committee in August 2020.

The development also included parking for approximately 29 vehicles and garden space.

However, Malvern Homes' appeal against Cheshire East's refusal was granted by a planning inspector on 23 April 2021.

The planning inspector felt that the proposed care home would enable a vacant site to be brought back into "beneficial use" and would provide additional bed spaces and "improved facilities" for residents, with associated employment opportunities.

The inspector did however note that there was an "alternative scheme" for residential development at the site, which at the time of the appeal was being considered by Cheshire East.

But only two months after securing planning permission, those residential development plans have now come to fruition after Malvern Homes submitted a proposal to bulldoze the former care facility, and erect 13 dwellings and construct an estate drive on the site instead.