A SECOND group of developers are looking to build a dementia care home in Pullens Lane, Headington, after plans were thrown out last year.

In August 2014 plans by Carebase for a 55-bedroom residential and day care were rejected by Oxford City Council on the grounds it would upset “rural tranquility” in the area.

Now a second application has been submitted, this time by Milton Keynes-based firm Frontier Estates.

If successful the current buildings – a small house and garage in a field – would be demolished and replaced with a three-storey care home that again would house 55 residents.

Councillor Roy Darke, who represents Headington Hill on Oxford City Council, said: “The previous application was refused because it was felt that it was an over- development of the site.

“It’s a rural conservation area and we didn’t think it fitted.

“That area is already quite institutionalised with a primary school and Pullens Lane is a private road, which is quite small. There are concerns about traffic.

“But if someone is having a second go, whether it will get the same treatment I don’t know. The previous idea didn’t seem a good one at all to me.”

Pullens Lane runs alongside a large green space filled with trees that was described by planning officer Matthew Perry last year as “essentially greenfield”.

The new planning application was received by the council on December 15 and, if approved, work could begin in July and an operator for the site introduced later.

Frontier Estates director Mike Mansell said: “If the application is successful in getting planning permission it will be a care home for the elderly and frail.

“There was a previous application by Carebase for a much bulkier design but I believe it was refused on the grounds that it wasn’t a suitable design.

“We could see why it was unpopular because it looked like an institutional building.

“Ours is much more in keeping with the environment.

“It has to be high quality to fit in with leafy Pullens Lane and a fairly old, established neighbourhood and the vernacular of that neighbourhood.”

Mr Mansell did not know how much the overall development could cost but confirmed Frontier Estates had enlisted the help of estate agents Savills.

There are currently three care homes in Headington: The Albany Nursing Home in London Road, The Headington Care Home in Roosevelt Drive and St Luke’s in Latimer Road.