PLANNERS have breached one of their own policies in a bid to ease the growing shortage of care home places in the New Forest.

Proposals to bulldoze the vacant Sway Place rest home in Station Road, Sway, and replace it with a new 60-bedroom complex have been given the go-ahead.

The district council has recently relaxed its rules relating to the extension of existing nursing homes.

Members of the planning committee agreed that the Sway scheme should be approved, even through it fell outside the scope of the new regulations.

A report to councillors said: "The change in policy does not include redevelopment schemes.

"However, there is a rest home on the site which, in theory, could be extended to create a building similar to that being proposed.

"The benefits of a purpose-built building are acknowledged and an exception to policy may appear to be justifiable in this case."

The report said the existing access at the junction of Station Road and Church Lane would be closed and replaced by a new entrance further along Church Lane.

"This would offer improved visibility and is supported by the highway authority.

"Despite the concerns expressed by local residents about the new scheme there is no highway objection as it should improve access to the site.

"The new building would occupy a greater footprint than the existing building and would be visible from Station Road, but this would be acceptable in terms of visual impact."

The scheme will help the Forest to cater for its ageing population. As reported in the Daily Echo, the number of residents aged over 85 is likely to rise by 18 per cent over the next few years. But at least 20 care homes in the district have closed as a result of rising costs.