PLANS to turn a former care home into a five-room boutique holiday let will be put before Oswestry town councillors for their backing this week.

The plan for Heatherdene, in Upper Brook Street, was submitted to Shropshire Council at the beginning of October, and now town councillors will have their say on the proposal.

The application, which is for the conversion to the holiday home with the removal of a laundry room and the installation of electric gates among other changes, is expected to be heard by Shropshire councillors around December.

A design and access statement, submitted on behalf of applicant Catherine Halliday-Taylor, explained the plans.

It said: "Currently the property has 16 bedrooms, previously housing 16 elderly people who were cared for by up to 20 employees.

"This was a busy building, including visitors, the footfall both in and out of the property as well as with cars would have been great.

"By reducing the house to five bedrooms the footfall will be dramatically lower and can only benefit the property and the surrounding area.

"The property sits between a residential home, The Old School House restaurant and The Textile Express Fabric shop with the Glorious St Oswald’s Church in the distance.

"Guests will be able to park in the enclosed parking area where there is room for at least six cars – not causing any issues for surrounding neighbours.

"Being in an area so close to so many outdoor activities as well as National Trust sites the property is ideal for use as a holiday home.

"It is our intention to attract families to Oswestry for this purpose, bringing new tourists to the town, supporting the local businesses.

"With this clientele in mind, the knowledge of existing holiday homes close by and busy restaurants in the local vicinity, we don’t feel that changing the use of this property will have a (negative) effect on the surrounding area – only positive.

"The front facade of the building remains unchanged – purely enhanced with refurbished windows and front entrance, elegant electric gates to the car park and beautiful potted plants around the perimeter.

"The only change to the building would be sliding doors from the kitchen/diner into the courtyard – bringing the outside in and vice versa.

Access for the Emergency Services will remain unchanged."

The meeting begins at 7pm at the Guildhall, with a number of planning matters on the agenda as well as full council meeting.