A PLANNING inspector is poised to decide if a Hampshire pub can be bulldozed to make way for a care home.

Highwood Residential bought the Captain Barnard in Compton, which was the only pub in the village, last year.

The firm wants to build a 57-bed facility, which is expected to cost £7m.

Its scheme also includes four detached houses.

The company says there is a shortage of care beds for the elderly in central Hampshire, and its proposal would help to meet the demand.

Highwood asked Winchester City Council for planning permission last summer, but the authority refused.

The firm lodged an appeal soon after, and both sides were due to face each other earlier this month.

However, the Planning Inspectorate has now moved the hearing to Thursday, March 26, to allow both sides to have extra time to prepare.

It will start at 10am at Winchester Guildhall in The Broadway. A decision is then expected a few weeks later.