AN Evesham residential care home is hoping to double the size of its operation.

It wants to start work soon on a major new development for which planning permission was given nearly five years ago.

Bengeworth Fields House, which looks after elderly people in residence as well as in their own homes, hopes to build a new £1.5million project on its premises in Badsey Road, Evesham, with work scheduled to begin in January.

The scheme has been delayed, due to lack of funds, but the home has now applied for charity status, which it hopes to receive early next year and is key to gaining the funding needed.

The first part of the scheme is a new building, which would be built under the car park.

This would be able to offer care not just for the elderly, but also for the disabled, housing a training centre of excellence for carers, a therapeutic heated pool and a patient rehabilitation centre.

The second part is a self-contained extension with wider corridors and larger bedrooms, which would fit in with the appearance of the Grade II listed building, as well as meet new care standards.

Owner, Alicia Hastead, said: "This is going to be a major development, not just for us, but for Evesham.

"The new development will enable us to provide care on another level, not just for the elderly, but we will also be able to provide facilities for the disabled."