PLANS to bulldoze a property in a leafy Trafford village and replace it with a 72-bed care home — where an "affordable" room would cost £650 a week — have been refused.  

Octopus Healthcare bosses wanted to a build the "high-end" facility in Bank Hall Lane in Hale Barns. 

Care Home UK had been tasked with running the home on a leasehold basis.

The plan was to offer 10 residents affordable rooms while the remaining 62 would be paid for privately for an undisclosed amount.

The application was recently discussed by members of Trafford’s planning committee.

Speaking on behalf of Hale Barns Residents Group, Stephen Hodder, said: “The care home would not be sustainable as it’s a remote site disconnected from public transport.

“Its isolated and would be difficult for patients to get out.

“In addition, the access is not safe as its on a very dangerous and blind bend.”

Cllr Dylan Butt, deputy executive member for finance, told the committee that the number of objections to the application had been "considerable".

He said: “There is no demand for this type of high-end care, but if the plans are approved, it may jeopardise prospects for more affordable care coming forward.

“In terms of highways the site access sits on the most dangerous point in Bank Hall Lane.”

Cllr Alun Mitchell, representing Hale Central, agreed with the assessments and urged the committee to refuse the application.

But John Cutler, on behalf of Octopus Homes, argued that there was a "real need" to provide high-end care in the area.

That view was not supported by Trafford’s children, families and wellbeing (CFW) services department, which feared that if residents who had to pay their own way ran out cash, the council would be forced to step in.

Bosses at Trafford’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) also said they were concerned the development was targeted towards a "high-end market" and "would not deliver affordable care". 

The town hall has already had to raid its reserves and hike council to prop up ailing social care services.

Bosses increased the social care element of council tax bills by two per cent, which will raise £1.7 million.

Another £1 million was taken from reserves.

During last week’s planning meeting, Cllr Daniel Bunting, of St Mary’s Ward, proposed to refuse the scheme because it was the "wrong facility in the wrong place". 

Timperley councillor Nathan Evans labelled the offer of 10 affordable rooms as a "bit of a sap".

The planning committee voted unanimously to refuse the application.