The facility will be constructed within the grounds of Randolph Hill Nursing Home on Perth Road.

The care home will be owned and operated by Randolph Hill Nursing Homes Group, but run independently from the existing 60-bed nursing home on the same site.

During a meeting this week, Stirling Council’s planning and regulation panel approved the application.

The planning application was initially submitted in July last year, the Courier reports. 

Dunblane Community Council formally objected to the care home plan for various reasons, including the potential for traffic issues on Perth Road as a direct result of the development.

Access to an informal path on the site that currently provides a walking route from Perth Road to Dunblane Hydro hotel was also a concern, raised during yesterday’s meeting by both councillors Alasdair Tollemache and Robin Kleinman. A senior planning officer said the path will stay in place, but stressed there is no requirement for the developer to maintain it.

Ten objections were submitted by members of the public over the care home plans. Fears included the possible impact on Dunblane’s conservation area, protecting the privacy of nearby neighbours, and increased noise and light pollution. The council’s planning officer said noise “will not be an issue”.

Planning officers recommended that councillors approve the care home plans, subject to some conditions, and the development was green-lit without objections from members.

During the planning meeting, Councillor Paul Henke said: “For this area, we’re in urgent need of care homes. Because it’s the only way we’re going to keep the cost down – not to build them, but for people to stay in them. It concerns me that people are having to use their savings and sell their house to pay for the kind of support they need.

“So, my comment is: we need more nursing homes. We should put all our efforts into supporting them.”