A care home hopes to build specialist dementia units for residents alongside private bungalows as part of a major upgrade.

Halstead Hall, which was formerly home to failing Attwoods Manor, is now run by Stow Healthcare Group for the Catchpole family.

The owners took over what is now described as a “luxury residential home” last year in an effort to improve the struggling facility.

Plans for the site now include ongoing internal renovations, 30 bungalows and a 25-bed dementia unit for residents.

Director Ruth French said: “Next door to Halstead Hall is a derelict building called Green Lodge, which we will be turning into a specialist dementia unit.

“The second part of the application is for 30 semi-detached bungalows, which is on land adjacent to Halstead Hall.

“They are going to be fabulous bungalows aimed at over 55s, but there are no restrictions as younger people may well want them.”

“We are trying to fill a need in the community for people who may want to downsize.”

Several derelict outbuildings will be demolished before the development is built, if the planning application gets the green light.

As part of the planning application validated by Braintree Council, 109 extra car parking spaces would be created on the 3.85ha site.

To comment on the application visit publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk and use reference 18/01481/FUL.