DEVELOPERS keen to build a new state-of-the-art care home on a Norton pub site have released details of slightly amended plans which they hope will prove a hit with the community.

Frontier Estates have revised their plan to build a large-scale state-of-the-art facility on site on the corner of Norton Road and Greyhound Lane, which is currently occupied by The Greyhound pub.

More than 100 letters of objection have been lodged with Dudley Council's planning department over the scheme which residents living nearby have dubbed overbearing for the site and not in-keeping with the area.

Concerns about parking and traffic congestion in the area have also been raised along with disappointment at the possible loss of the landmark pub.

The developers, however, have now amended their plan and reduced the proposed number of bedrooms in the complex from 60 to 55 and pushing the building further back from the road as well as including more trees into the landscape.

Laura Grimason, associate director at planning consultancy Gillings Planning, said “We’re really pleased that following ongoing discussions with Dudley Council, we have been able to make amendments to the design and scale of the scheme in response to local resident, councillor and officer comments.

"The proposed number of bedrooms has been reduced from 60 to 55.

"Amending the internal layout by reducing the number of bedrooms has allowed for external changes to be made to the building.

"Notably, this includes shifting the building further back from the road to provide additional planting along the frontage of the site, including 8 new trees.

"The scale and position of the rear wing has also been revised to improve the relationship with both neighbouring properties and retained trees.

"Materials have been updated and whilst the number of bedrooms has reduced, the number of car parking spaces has remained the same, improving the overall ratio of parking spaces to bedrooms.

"We believe the social, economic and environmental benefits of the scheme are extensive and we look forward to continuing our discussions with Dudley Council and the local community over the coming weeks."

The developers say the care home would be run by Barchester Healthcare and would help to meet the need for elderly nursing and dementia care in the area.

A consultation on the scheme is running until June 5.