A multi-million-pound housing paradise for senior citizens at Chandler's Ford could become a reality within two years.

By just stepping out of their front door residents would be able to work out in their own fitness suite and dine out in their own licensed restaurant.

Winchester based care charity Brendoncare wants to develop a 20-bed nursing centre with 37 two-bed care apartments, a fitness centre, hairdressing salon, library and licensed restaurant on a four-acre site off Shannon Way and Knightwood Road at Valley Park.

The apartments would be rented or sold on a leasehold basis to people aged over 60.

The scheme was unveiled at a public forum over the weekend.

Brendoncare's chief executive Ron Staker said if a planning application was submitted at the end of March and given the go-ahead it would take about 18 months to complete the project.

He said: "The fitness suite/physiotherapy room would be a crucial part of the development because we know from our experience of running seven care facilities across the south the importance of keeping mobile as the years progress.

"The restaurant, library and hairdressing salon would all help give residents access to as many normal living experiences as possible.

"These facilities would also be open to other senior citizens living loc-ally."

Pressing home the need for such a scheme, Mr Staker said: "There is a chronic shortage of adequate facilities to care for our older generation."

The charity has been sounding out views from local residents before pressing ahead with proposals for building on a "sensitive" countryside site. Valley Park is already under pressure from other developers.

Residents, who packed the Valley Park Community Centre, generally spoke in favour of the revolutionary care facility for the older generation.

But there were concerns about the lack of parking and safety fears.

Although there were 50 parking spaces earmarked in the proposed plans, earlier plans had shown 70.

Mr Staker said because of government guidelines on planning they had to reduce the number of parking spaces.