A Midlands care business is to embark on building a £500,000 sheltered housing 'village' in the historic grounds of a private park.

The project has been researched for five years by Carlton Care Group partner Tony Billingham. He now believes the UK market is ripe for the scheme.

Plans for the 12-bungalow development in the five acres of gardens surrounding the 41-bed residential care home Lapal House, Halesowen, are currently being revised - Dudley's planning committee approved the project in May.

Each unit will have its own front door, lounge, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. A corridor will lead to a large sitting room, aimed at building a sense of community.

Under the new proposals, financed by Mr Billingham's Lapal House enterprise, extra living space will be incorporated in the wardenmonitored homes. The buildings will be set in spectacular gardens that were designed by British poet William Shenstone in the mid-1700s and have been restored in a 13-year labour of love by Cradley gardeners Arie Koren and his business partner Mark Payne.

Architects Clive Waker & Associates of Stourbridge have designed the complex around many trees which are subject to preservation orders.

Part of the brief was drawn from comments by Mr Billingham's 92-year-old mother, Elsie, a resident at Lapal House.

"She is very sharpminded and made it clear older people would require all the elements included in our plans - even a focal point fireplace," said Mr Billingham, who is president of the Quintonbased West Midlands Care Association.

The complex will remain totally separate from Lapal House and its Lodge. Building work is expected to start later in the year, but no date has been finalised.