FULL plans have been revealed for the retirement homes that are to be built on the site of a former York council care home.

Housebuilders McCarthy and Stone have made their planning application for the Oliver House site on Bishophill Junior, three years after the care home closed.

The plans show five one-bedroomed and 29 two-bedroomed apartments together with two communal lounges and a roof terrace, 14 parking spaces and landscaped gardens.

Steve Secker, the company's Regional Managing Director for the North East said: “We are encouraged by the positive feedback that our proposals have received throughout the consultation process and would like to thank those who have taken the time to provide us with their views.”

“We hope that members and officers at City of York Council will also see the benefits of the scheme when determining the application, as we believe York needs this type of housing. The design of the building is in keeping with York’s historic architecture and would deliver a flagship development inside the city walls.”

The company says the new development could give older people the chance to downsize and free up larger homes for families.

The plans were shown off at a public exhibition in October 2015, and McCarthy and Stone say that of the people who took part in their consultation, 62 percent supported the proposals.

All 34 of the flats will be for sale on the open market, and in the planning document show McCarthy and Stone are offering a £156,699 contribution towards affordable homes elsewhere.

They say difficulties will arise from trying to mix different types of housing with private sheltered housing, and add: "The maintenance of an organised, stress-free lifestyle that will benefit the general health and well-being of a like-minded group of people within a contained, communal living environment is of paramount importance to the success of this form of housing."

The decision on whether to go ahead with the plans now lies with members of the City of York Council’s planning committee, which is likely to vote on the application in the New Year.