A developer has started an appeal in a bid to force through plans for a controversial new care home in Hatton.

Belmont Healthcare was last year refused planning permission for the 75-bed facility on Birmingham Road after councillors voted against a report from planners that said the scheme should go ahead.

The company had already seen an application for the care home in the green belt refused by Warwick District Council in 2022, but said the fresh scheme "significantly improved" the plans.

Having been refused planning permission again last year, Belmont has now appealed the decision.

"We believe that the scheme would be best determined by a local hearing, and roundtable discussion," the appeal said.

"The site has a long planning history, but we have worked with the authority to then be at a point of receiving officer recommendation of the scheme, before being considered at planning committee by councillors."

In its application Belmont said it had "provided sufficient justification to demonstrate very special circumstances" for developing in the green belt by the Grand Union Canal.

But councillors said the plans were too far away from local amenities and public transport, and argued there was not enough adequate local health care to support the residents.

Both the developer and Warwick District Council will now submit their case to the planning inspectorate.

See the full application here.