A SCHEME to house people with schizophrenia in Malvern Link has been given planning permission in the face of opposition from local residents.

The West Mercia Housing Group wants to convert the former St Michael's Nursing Home, in Ranelagh Road, into 21 flats.

Some will be used by the charity Headway to house people with brain injuries while others are for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship.

The plan to house schizophrenics aroused concern among neighbours and more than 20 letters and a petition with 37 signatures were sent to Malvern Hills District Council.

Not only were residents worried about the potential threat posed by schizophrenic patients, they were also concerned about the possible increase in traffic and car parking.

But the scheme was recommended for approval by the district council's planning officers, who said government guidance "does not accept that different types of housing and tenure makes bad neighbours".

At Monday night's meeting of the southern area planning sub-committee, members heard a report from Coun John Raine, who had visited an NSF housing scheme in Evesham.

Coun Raine had spoken to local councillors and police and his report said the Evesham scheme has not "generated local difficulties".

Councillors voted to approve the scheme but approval of a listed building application, for converting the Grade II listed laundry building on the site, was delegated to council officers.