A Suffolk care home is set for demolition after planners green-lit a major redevelopment project.

Permission was given for Care UK to replace the site in Fore Street, Framlingham, with a larger facility and community wellbeing centre.

A Suffolk Coastal development control committee reached the decision after visiting the Mills Meadow care home earlier this month.

Care UK, which took over management of the county council’s 16 care homes and 8 wellbeing centres in December, will replace the existing single-storey 35-bedroom building with a two storey 60-bedroom home. A single-storey well being centre will also provide 25 day care places.

The new home, which will also have a garden, cafe, hairdresser and small cinema, will be part of the company’s £60 million investment in 10 new care homes and 10 new wellbeing centres for the county by 2016.

Upon reaching its decision, the committee imposed an extra condition for developers to include a duck pond in the new grounds at Mills Meadow, which provides residential and respite care for older people, including those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Developers plan to build in two stages, with residents staying in the existing home during phase one and moving to the new building to allow the second phase to begin.

Concern had been raised over a perceived the lack of parking but developers and planning officers felt that an increased provision of 40 spaces was adequate.

Construction is due to begin this summer, with completion of the first phase scheduled for summer 2014.

Residents of Wickham Market’s Lehmann House care home will have the choice to move into the new home when it opens. Lehmann House will then close.

Chris Hopkinson, of Care UK, said: “There is currently a shortfall of specialist nursing and dementia beds in Suffolk and this new care home is a step towards addressing this issue and meeting our and Suffolk County Council’s vision for the future of residential care.”