THE site of a former care home in Petersfield that was closed despite thousands of signatures on a petition aimed at keeping it open has been listed for redevelopment.

Bulmer House off Rams Hill is one of a number of Hampshire County Council sites which will benefit from £45m of council money aimed at attracting developers.

In a statement the council said new Extra Care schemes were still planned for the Bulmer House, and five other sites across the county.

The site has remained unused and has attracted little interest since the home was closed abruptly in 2014 by the council, which said it would cost too much to refurbish it.

The closure was opposed by a well-supported campaign, which culminated in thousands of local people signing a petition against the closure.

But the closure went ahead anyway, amid promises Extra Care apartments for the elderly would be built on the site.

The council pledged to give the land to any developer which would build the apartments, as part of a scheme to provide 1,500 care places across Hampshire.

But the deal with developers fell through, and now the council has pledged £45m over the next ten years to “stimulate the development of schemes for older people across the whole county.”

Extra Care developments see elderly residents rent or buy apartments, and then the council will provide free care.

However this could change say commentators under plans announced in the Conservative Manifesto for the June election.

If the Conservative win the election, the cost of care to elderly home owners would be deducted from the profit in their homes after they die.

Hampshire County Council is a Conservative run council.