PLANS to convert a 19th Century Claines villa into a private care home for people with severe learning difficulties have been withdrawn.

Developers proposed to create the home at Northwick House, Old Northwick Lane that would have provided accommodation for eight people who require round-the-clock supervision.

Minor alterations would have been needed to create nine bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, for the residents and staff.

Officers had recommended the application for approval but some residents had objections with concerns over the plans.

John Owen, who lives yards away from the property in Lucerne Close, said the withdrawal was good news but said he would be ready to object again if it was resubmitted.

"The proposal was not appropriate in an established residential location for a number of reasons.

"One of which is that the term in the applicant's letter, 'severe learning difficulties' and the references to 'care and supervision' were incomplete, lacking comprehensive definition and exclude any references to the cause of these difficulties. The causes might include severe personality and behavioural disorders and mental illness.

"As has become clear in recent years, persons with a history of severe learning difficulties or personality disorders have, despite supervision in the community or in care homes, all to often committed acts of violence to other persons or property (including theft) or behaved in a way which causes a persistent nuisance to other parties."