Plans to increase capacity at a care home by building a single storey extension have been approved.

The proposals for Hevercourt Residential Home in Gravesend will see 23 new bedrooms, additional car parking spaces, more facilities, and building improvements.

The "wing" extension will provide 21 new ground floor, ensuite bedrooms and will convert two existing staff rooms into bedrooms as well.

This will bring the ground floor capacity up to 34 from 11 and means there will be 64 rooms in total across the site in Goodwood Crescent.

Additionally, the plans outline more care home facilities, internal and external alterations including a new entrance and entrance canopy, external courtyards, seven car parking spaces and landscaping.

The plans have been approved by Gravesham council subject to various conditions before construction can start, including a code of construction practice to be produced to minimise the impact to residents.

One of the conditions set out in the decision document says the extension should only be used as a residential care home for the elderly.

It adds: "For the avoidance of doubt, it is expected that the nature of the occupancy is to provide residential care needs for the elderly with complex physical and care needs, such that residents will not be active and will, under the terms of the management of the scheme, not be allowed to have or keep pets on the site or have access to or the use of motor vehicles or vehicle parking spaces on the site."

The home built a Covid-safe visiting room in 2021 so people could see their loved ones during the pandemic.

The latest application was granted permission on Tuesday after being submitted on October, 14.

As part of the conditions, construction must begin within three years.