A company that was last year refused planning permission to turn a historic house in Watton into a care home has submitted a fresh application for the site.

A company that was last year refused planning permission to turn a historic house in Watton into a care home has submitted a fresh application for the site.

The new proposal put forward by Jetspark for Beechwood House, in the High Street, is also for a residential care home.

It would see the historic house retained but the current side wing and outbuildings would be demolished.

The plans for the 40-bedroom care home include building three wings which would form a C shaped block which, along with Beechwood House, would surround a courtyard garden.

The design and access statement said: 'The proposal is for a specialist residential home having the potential to be operated as a nursing and/or care home, residential centre for people with learning disabilities or a residential unit for people with physical or mental problems.'

In an appendix the statement said the home could provide services for frail older people, and that the services at the centre would be specifically designed to free acute hospital beds and give patients the facilities, care and support needed to help them return to their own home.

'Our discussions with commissioners at NHS Norfolk and Norfolk adult social services have also confirmed there is an acute shortage of this type of accommodation, which is consequently delaying hospital discharges following rehabilitation,' the appendix said.

The application states the new care home would create 15 full-time jobs and 30 part-time jobs.

Jetspark was previously refused planning permission for a care home on the same site in November 2009 at a meeting where Breckland councillors expressed concern that it was not clear what type of care the converted building would provide.