A community nursing home near Bridgnorth has unveiled major expansion plans to create 21 new apartments for elderly residents. Lady Forester Memorial Hospital in Much Wenlock wants to expand its main building.

It says the plan will provide better community facilities.

The new apartments will also allow more independent living for residents at the Farley Road hospital.

Extra Care Charitable Trust, which runs the hospital, says the current community facilities do not give residents enough personal space.

It wants to revamp the layout of the main building, which has 25 community spaces for residents but only 11 bedrooms.

The trust has submitted plans to Bridgnorth District Council for 11 one and two-bedroomed apartments while keeping 10 of the existing apartments.

It also proposes to build a further 10 apartments as part of an extension, along with new community facilities.

It would take the total number of apartments for people over the age of 55 at the hospital to 31.

In a statement to the district council Extra Care Charitable Trust said: “The existing layout of the main building has individual bedroom units, shared lounges and bathrooms. There is no real personal space and no ability to have independence of living.”

The hospital was built in the late 19th century as a cottage hospital. Extra Care Charitable Trust took over the running of the hospital from the NHS in 1995.