A MULTI-MILLION-pound scheme to knock down a Southampton pub and turn it into a luxury development for senior citizens comes before city planning bosses tomorrow.

The Bassett in Burgess Road has been sold to an American company, Sunrise Senior Living, and will be turned into a care home for 105 elderly residents if members of the city's planning and rights of way panel approve the scheme.

About 70 full-time jobs for care workers, managers, chefs, housekeepers and maintenance staff will be created if city bosses give the scheme the green light.

A survey of residents conducted by the company showed that about 70 per cent were in favour of the proposals which will see a "Dutch" style method of care for the elderly introduced in Hampshire.

The radical concept will see 87 en suite residential rooms - 16 of which will be designed for couples.

There will also be leisure facilities, a bistro and a spa and hair salon.

Nine letters of objection have been received to the proposals from local residents.

They centre on the number of car parking spaces being planned for both residents and staff and fears that the proposed building may be out of character for the site. Steve Bucknell, Sunrise Development manager, said that 19 parking spaces would be created when the scheme was built - a space for one in four residents.

But he added that most residents were frail and would rarely - if ever - drive. He said: "We are delighted at the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from the local community and that Southampton City Council's planning officers will be recommending to councillors that our scheme should be approved.

"A lot of work has gone into the design of the building and there is an acknowledged need for high-quality accommodation and specialist care in the area.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with all parties to deliver this much-needed home for Southampton. The provision of a new pedestrian crossing across Burgess Road was a suggestion from the local community made during our consultation with local residents and we are absolutely delighted to incorporate it into our plans."