A MEDICAL firm could create up to 50 new jobs at a new private hospital and nursing home at an abbey which has faced an uncertain future.

The un-named company is bidding to buy the site currently occupied by a community of Benedictine nuns at Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End.

It has faced an uncertain future since the nuns announced they wanted to move from their 19th -Century home more than two years ago.

Planning permission for a new purpose-built convent for the nuns in north Yorkshire has only recently been confirmed and it could be up to three years before the nuns can move in.

In the meantime, permission has been sought for some of the abbey's land to be included in the village settlement area, which parishioners fear could lead to housing development on the open countryside.

News of the bid to buy the Abbey and its grounds was given to parish councillors by chairman Andy Lamb at this week's meeting. But the firm was not named because of the negotiations.

He said a company representative had told him it was keen to buy the Abbey and its grounds as it is.

"They wouldn't require any extension of the current area of land identified as within the development area," he said.

"They also say they wouldn't need to make many modifications to the building, other than squaring off one of the cloisters by building a fourth side on it."

The company wanted to turn the abbey into a hospital and nursing home with 100 beds, caring for people with mental infirmity, the elderly and special patient groups such as those with head injuries and conditions such as bulimia.

"They would not be at the extreme end of the mental health spectrum," said Mr Lamb.

The scheme was expected to employ about 120 people, including medical professionals, with 40 to 50 jobs generated locally.

The company had done a similar development in Weston-super-Mare.

after discussion with local people and was keen to undertake similar consultation in Callow End, but Mr Lamb said the parish council could not express any preference for one prospective purchaser over another.