PLANS for a three-storey ‘care hotel’ have been submitted as part of a broader regeneration project in Hatfield.

A 65-bed care home could be built on the former Hatfield police station in St Albans Road East.

The firm behind the plans is Avery Healthcare, which prides itself on building care homes that are more like ‘care hotels’ than traditional homes.

All rooms enjoy features like en suite facilities in an attempt to ensure ‘guests’ enjoy service and support to quality hotel standards.

Managing director John Strowbridge said: “We were particularly keen on finding a site in the Hatfield area to serve the town and surrounding areas and when the site became available recently it was an obvious one to choose.

“The architecture of the building will be very sympathetic to that of the surrounding area.”

The building, which will be made of brick, will be named Acacia Mews and could create 60 jobs once completed.

The proposal also includes the construction of 14 semi-detached houses where empty Welwyn Hatfield Council offices curently stand.

Both the office block and the former police station would be demolished before construction work begins and the project could be completed by early 2012 if planning permission is granted.

A consultation period on the plans runs until June 2.