A councillor has said plans for executive housing in the grounds of a County Durham conservation area could have saved a care home now earmarked for closure.

Durham County Councillor Alex Watson said developers had hoped to build 12 luxury homes in the grounds of the former stately home in Shotley Bridge near Consett.

He said plans for the 13-acre Shotley Park Residential Home site were drawn up but discussions with council officers ‘did not get past the pre-planning stage’.

Read more: Elderly residents and staff 'devastated' at shock closure of County Durham care home

The owners of the home have now told 38 residents and 63 staff the facility, a grade II listed building, will close in the middle of next month.

Councillor Watson said: “They were looking for new build in the park area, which would have helped sustained the residential centre.

“They did draw up plans but they never came in and it did not go any further.

“I have seen some of the plans and we talked about what was needed. They were a tasteful build.

“It went to pre-planning talks. It got to that stage.”

The sandstone building was created by Jonathan Richardson, the founder of Shotley Bridge Spa, in the mid-19th century and sold to the wealthy Priestman family, industrialists who sank coal mines in the area, in 1871.

It was gifted to Barnardo’s in the 1950’s before Shotley Park Care Homes took over the building in 1987 and expanded the care home in 2006.

But now families are having to find new homes for elderly residents, some of whom have dementia, and others who have lived there for many years.

It also means that 63 members of staff, including care workers, cooks and cleaners have now lost their jobs.

Cllr Watson, who sits on the board of Project Genesis said the organisation’s lead private sector partner Dysart Developments was involved in the plans for housing along with another developer.

He said he would like to see the care home facility saved, and that he was still hopeful housing could be created on the site.

He said: “It is a vital amenity for the area. It is a great facility and it is sad that it is under the threat of closure. We don’t want to lose it.

“I welcome talks with the owners because care homes are much needed when there is an aging population and people are getting older.

“People come to a time where they have got to have care and this is a facility which is going to provide quality of life.

“We need quality development and we have got to attract investors in to the area to help further investment in the area so people can see what we have got.

“I would still like it happen. I believe it could generate enough money to prevent the care home from closing.”

The conservation area in Shotley Bridge, one of the county’s most desirable places to live, was designated in 1975 and covers the Shotley Park site.

Councillor Steven Robinson, who represents the area on Durham County Council, said he was aware of proposals to develop part of the care home grounds.

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Cllr Robinson said: “I have been approached to ask if there would be any objections to planning permission for a development at the site.

“They do want to build around it in the grounds, beside the buildings.”

“It is sad that it is closing because the average age of the residents is 80-odd.”

Councillor Kevin Earley, who represents the Benfieldside division, said the care home closure must be stopped.

He said: “I am very angry on behalf the residents and staff.

“My own mum was in Shotley Park for the last  seven or eight weeks of her life last year and I have nothing but praise for the level of care in those difficult times.

“It is, I’m told, increasingly difficult to find good quality care places here in Consett and this Government needs to deliver what it promised on sorting out social care: Maybe less profit and more care might be the best starting point.

“It is real people whose lives are being turned upside down by this current system.”

Shotley Part Homes for the Elderly said the closure was due to rising operation costs such as fuel and food prices amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

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North West Durham MP Richard Holden said: “Ensuring that people get the care they need in old age is vital, which is why the council and Government have prioritised funding in this area.

“It’s always sad businesses take decisions like this one - especially for long-standing staff and residents.

“Fortunately there is real demand for the fantastic care skills these workers have across our region and capacity in our local care sector to accommodate and care for the residents too in their twilight years.”