A FORMER pub which has been derelict for several years will be turned into a care home.

The Spring Meadow in Mulberry Tree Hill, Droitwich which has been boarded up since 2014 will be turned into a 70 bed care home as planners took less than ten minutes to pass the application at a meeting on Thursday.

The care home will be spread across three floors, including a cafe, hair salon, cinema, activity space and gym, and could see up to 70 jobs created.

The applicant, Frontier Estates was widely praised by the committee for their engagement with residents.

Max Paddock, a director at Frontier Estates said: "Our research says that 370 care beds are needed within a ten mile radius and this is only going to increase. It is no secret that we have an ageing population.

"It will create 53 fulltime jobs filled by people working in shifts so they will not sleep there. From our experience these mostly come from the local area."

Cllr Tony Miller said: "How nice it is to see an application which is not unimaginative. I am sure the residents will be very comfortable there.

"They have liaised with the council and local residents. This is a good lesson to some other developers."

Cllr Bob Brookes, who represents Droitwich, said: "I live very near this site and it is a derelict site. I have no problem in supporting it."

The plan was passed unanimously by 14 councillors at Wychavon District Council on Thursday.