PLANS for a new £3million 72-room care home have been agreed, despite a recommendation for the council to refuse the application.

Castle Point Council’s planning committee voted to pass plans for the care home at Garden World Ltd, Canvey Road, Canvey.

The plans were submitted by Sheryl Howard, who manages Stafford Court Care Home on Canvey and has worked in the care industry for more than 30 years.

Miss Howard didn’t go to the meeting as she expected the plans to be refused.

She said: “I am feeling a lot more positive now! I have been working on this for some time and spent a lot of money.

“I am feeling excited. It is a big project and I will take it step by step. We have lease in place with the people who use the land and will be working with them. This has been needed on Canvey for a long time, the people on Canvey currently have little choice.”

She said it will cost between £3 million and £4 million to build the home. She said that the care home she runs is old fashioned and the service needs a new space.

There are three care homes on the island - and five assisted living services for residents.

Miss Howard said people would have to be sent off the island for a care home if this new facility was not built.

John Anderson, Canvey Independent councillor, said committee members felt the officers recommendations were not enough to refuse the plans.

Officers recommended the care home was refused due to concerns about building on the green belt - and because the Local Plan is not yet in place.

There were concerns if the site is developed before the Local Plan is approved they will lose it as a site.

The plans include a part three storey, part two storey building providing a nursing home supporting 57 rooms with 60 beds and 47 parking spaces.

Miss Howard is the daughter of councillor Ray Howard.

Castle Point Council has been reprimanded by the Government for failing to complete its Local Plan which sets out where homes and facilities should be built during the next 15 years.

Canvey Town Council previously objected to the plans claiming Ms Howard failed to mention in the application that she is the daughter of long-standing island councillor, Ray Howard.

The connection should have been made clear in the application according to the town council but the final decision rests with the planning committee at Castle Point Council.