THE Malvern house where US president Franklin D Roosevelt once stayed as a child could soon become a children's home.

Aldwyn Tower, in St Ann's Road, was a grand hotel when the child who became the 31st president of the United States stayed there in 1889.

In recent years the imposing Grade II listed building was used as a nursing home, while a bid to turn it into a guest house failed last month.

Planning permission was turned down on the grounds that St Ann's Road is too narrow to support any increase in traffic and parking.

Owner Jonathan Roe of Victoria Road, Malvern, now says he has no alternative but to put the building to use under its original planning category as a residential institution.

"After careful consideration and consultation with experts it would appear that the structure of the building is unsuitable for the elderly.

"Therefore I am considering utilising Aldwyn Tower as either a home for persons with a disability or a children's home," he said.

"I have contacted the County Inspectorate to seek advice on the required alterations to comply with current legislation."

Aldwyn Tower Nursing Home would be marketed through a national agent specialising in the letting of care homes, with a view to leasing the building on a long term basis, he said.

Next door neighbour Philip Evans, who favoured the plan for a guest house, said that as the property was already registered as a care home, nothing could be done about it.

"I think it's inexorable. We would like to know what is going to happen, and when it's quite definite I think we will formulate some attitude," he said.

Another neighbour, Ray Loughrey, said: "One can't pre-judge the situation. If it were done properly it would be in everyone's interest to see the site tidied up. It's an eyesore at present. But I would have thought it would be the worst spot for disabled people, because of the difficulty of access."

Other residents, who did not wish to be named, were less happy about the new proposal.

"This is a road inhabited mainly by old and retired people. The idea of a children's home, with children howling and screeching around, is horrific," said one.