A 71-bed care home and day centre in Southampton has been given planning approval.

Two social services office buildings on a one-acre plot at Oak Lodge off Freemantle Common Road will be flattened to make way for the development The part three-storey care home will be run by BUPA in a partnership with the city council and primary care trust.

It is the second of its kind in the city following the opening of the Northlands House nursing home two years ago.

The BUPA care home will offer short stay and permanent care while a day centre will support people living at home with relatives or carers.

There were four letters of objection to the plans with concerns that 14 parking spaces were insufficient and a bat colony nesting in the roof of the main building would be harmed.

But Natural England raised no objection subject to "bat mitigation measures".