Plans for a new hospital in Alcester have been submitted to Stratford Council, writes Helen Clarke.

The scheme, for the existing Alcester Hospital site on Fields Park Drive, is for a 25-bed hospital, with day care and outpatients' suite, including a combined chiropody, dental surgery and physiotherapy unit.

Patient accommodation will be at ground level with offices and single, twin and four-bed rooms with ensuite facilities.

A Primary Care Trust spokesman said: "The plans also show a residential development on part of the hospital site."

If the application is successful, the PCT will seek final approval from the NHS Executive to proceed with a start date planned for late summer/early autumn 2003.

The hospital is being built by Moss Construction and designed by Hitchman Stone Partnership after liaison with South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust.

Parkinson Estates Plc, in Association with Countrywide Homes, is developing the residential site.

And plans for a state-of-the art care facility in Alcester have been submitted.

Warwickshire Social Services and care home provider Prime Life Ltd have been working in partnership on a new care home for the elderly.

Prime Life submitted the plans for the former Meadow View Residential Home site in Fields Park Drive, owned by the county council.