DEVELOPERS hoping to build a 42-bed ‘extra care’ home for the elderly on the outskirts of Grayshott have had their planning application turned down for the second time.

East Hampshire District Council refused permission for the home on a greenfield site west of Ludshott End, off Headley Road.

After planning permission was refused in November last year, the plans were re-submitted in June after the applicants argued the council had failed to adequately assess the proposal.

However last week the council went with the planning officers’ recommendation to refuse permission once more.

Officers said there was no proven local need for the home to be built on a greenfield site outside the settlement boundaries identified in the East Hampshire District Local Plan; that the site was not in a sustainable location for people to access without private cars because it is too far away from the village; the scale of the development would undermine the undeveloped gap between Headley Down and Grayshott; and the plans failed to provide 40 per cent of the units as affordable housing.

There were 53 objections to the proposal, backed by Grayshott Parish Council, including Grayshott Society, Grayshott Surgery, and West of Grayshott Residents Group.

The site was to be operated by Cinnamon Care, which maintained there was a need for the accommodation, which would provide independent living for the elderly, but also give them extra support.

The scheme was originally proposed as a 64-bed care home in 2015, but was later modified.