THE £6.2million care village for Craven Arms has been given the thumbs-up by district planners - but the developer is to shell out some £300,000 for road access improvements.

The village will bring more than 100 jobs and will consist of 27 bungalows for older people, a care home with 30 nursing beds, 20 EMI (elderly mentally infirm) beds and 10 residential flats are also in the plans.

George Bowness, chief executive of New Dawn Care Ltd, said he was delighted to get planning permission for the 4.2 acre development on land behind Watling Street.

"Watling Street will have to be brought up to scratch and we are willing to pay for that," he added.

"We intend to put a new junction in from Clun Road as the Highways Agency say the present one from Watling Street is not suitable.

"We are over the moon that we can go ahead.

"The highways requirements are quite stringent so I'll be going to see my bank manager to borrow some more money."

Mr Bowness said he was now working on a half-day "talk-in" to explain to residents exactly what is planned.

"I want to show people the new junction and allay their fears," he said.

"I want to emphasise the fact that we are here for the long term and that we are going to bring great benefits to the businesses and the people of this town."

Mr Bowness paid tribute to Councillor Claude Bodenham who, he said, had put in long hours for no reward to make the project a reality.