A disused pub previously used as a drugs farm is set to be demolished and replaced with an 82-room care home.

Seven people were arrested in March 2014 after police uncovered a huge drugs farm of 1,500 cannabis plants at the Belvedere, in Hardings Elm Road, Crays Hill.

Outline planning permission was approved in 2013 for the development on green belt land and a full application was submitted in 2015.

However, it was held pending validation for a significant period of time while discussions regarding the required fee took place.

In March, there were plans to build 23 houses on the site and an application is currently being considered.

Basildon Council has now approved the development of the care home.

The plans included the removal of the entire building as it currently exists, to be replaced by a care home designed in the style of a country house with car parking and landscaped gardens to complement the style.

The indicative layout was for a two and a half storey building enclosing a central courtyard.

Read more: Man who dumped 3kg of cannabis in a skip is jailed

Read more: Haul of 1,500 cannabis plants seized in police sting at former Crays Hill pub​

In the report, officers wrote: “The proposed development has been the subject of an outline planning consent which accepted the principle of the proposed use at this green belt site and set out general parameters for the detailed development.

“The current application is in respect of the consideration of certain details of the development proposals only.

“It is considered that the scale and siting of the proposed care home meets with the parameters of the outline consent, and that the detailed design and layout is acceptable.

“It is therefore recommended that planning permission is granted subject to conditions requiring the further submission of development in accordance with the approved plans.”