Controversial plans to build a major new care home in Hatton have been blocked, despite council planners saying the scheme should go ahead.

Belmont Healthcare had already been refused planning permission for the facility on Birmingham Road in 2022, and has now seen its updated plans thrown out.

The building - which would have sat in the green belt - would have fronted the Grand Union Canal and included 75 rooms.

Council planners had described the designs as "significantly improved" from the previous plans and said Belmont had "provided sufficient justification to demonstrate very special circumstances" for developing in the green belt. 

But councillors did not agree, and last week voted to block the scheme.

"In the opinion of the local planning authority, the proposal would not be in close proximity to shops, amenities and public transport as required by the policy," a report following the decision said.

"In addition, whilst care facilities are proposed on site, the local planning authority does not consider that satisfactory primary health care services to serve the residents of the development will be available within reasonable proximity of the site."

It added: "In the opinion of the local planning authority, the development does not fall within any of the exceptions to be considered appropriate development within the green belt and therefore constitutes inappropriate development in the green belt, which is harmful by definition and by reason of harm to openness.

"In the opinion of the local planning authority, no very special circumstances have been provided that would outweigh the harm to the green belt."

See the full application here.