A NEW 70-bed care home could be built in Didcot but its planned location has been described as 'ludicrous' because of noise and traffic fears.

Developers Care Concern Group and 376 Estates are in the early stages of planning the new home in Broadway, near the Aldi supermarket and close to a major roundabout, railway lines and a gasworks.

Along with the 70 beds, it would feature 22 car parking spaces and be designed to provide both residential and nursing care, assisting people with dementia.

Up to 80 jobs are due to be created at a 'range of levels.'

Meetings have been held with South Oxfordshire District Council and Didcot Town Council as the developers seek to firm up plans ahead of submitting a planning application.

A consultation is now being held with the public given a chance to submit their views on the design and location of the proposed home.

David Pinckney of 376 Estates, said: “We welcome the opinion of the local community on the care home and its design, before we refine the proposal and submit a planning application this spring.

"We are looking forward to meeting the local need for the elderly of Didcot and the surrounding area.”

But the plans have so far received a mixed reaction online.

Janice Dew wrote: "Surely they can find a better location, not alongside a railway line and a busy main road on the other side.

"Perhaps they don't think elderly people will want to have a nice view and obviously they will all have hearing difficulties."

Jilly Corcoran said the location was 'depressing' and wondered whether the home will be called 'gasworks view.'

She added: "That area of Didcot is already extremely congested so a traffic re-think of the Jubilee roundabout and Aldi junction would be required."

John Hutchings agreed saying residents would be 'hemmed in' on all sides by the supermarket, main road and railway along with an embankment and overhead cables.

Other commenters raised fears about the low number of car parking spaces compared to the large number of residents and visitors expected.

376 Estates stressed the home would make 'good use' of a brownfield site and meets a need for accommodation for elderly people in the area.

It would feature a garden space for 'sensory planting' and other communal facilities including a cafe, cinema and spa.

Developers said the building design will fit into the surrounding context and complement surrounding buildings.

To comment email anna@gillingsplanning.co.uk before Friday, March, 23.