A DEVELOPMENT company is offering two alternative designs for the care home it wants to build on the site of the old Malvern hospital.

But Malvern Civic Society says any proposal that involves knocking down the existing hospital is unacceptable.

Montpelier Estates has submitted two planning applications to Malvern Hills District Council for its proposed 50-bed home on the site of the hospital in Lansdowne Crescent, close to the town centre.

One is designed in a traditional style, the other in a contemporary idiom, but both call for the demolition of the existing hospital building, which has stood empty since 2010.

James McGarry, a director of the company, said that during its consultations, which took place earlier this summer, some indicated that a modern style of building would be most welcome, and others that a more conservative design would suit the site better.

He said: "We talked to the council's planning department and the local design review panel, and they indicated that a contemporary approach would be best.

"But when we talked to people who live near the site, they seemed to prefer a more traditional type of building."

Montpelier Estates says that it would not be viable to keep the existing building as part of its scheme.

But this week, Clive Hooper, chairman of the civic society, said that neither plan is acceptable, because they involve the loss of the existing building.

He said: "The society thinks demolishing the old hospital building is unacceptable. We feel it has architectural merit, as it fits in very well with its location, and historical merit, in that it was given to the town by Dyson Perrins, the very respected local philanthropist.

"Furthermore, the district council in August 2006, adopted a supplementary planning document which said the building makes a positive contribution to the Conservation Area, and should be retained and converted. There must be exceptional circumstances before the demolition of the building is to be permitted, and we don't think the circumstances are exceptional.

"We hope that the council will bear these policies in mind when it comes to make a decision on these applications."

The hospital opened in 1911, and was a gift to the town from businessman and philanthropist C W Dyson Perrins, grandson of Worcestershire Sauce inventor William Perrins. It closed in 2010, when it was replaced by the new hospital in Malvern Link.