THE Hoyland Common Primary school site will be transformed into a £3.5 million residential care home creating up to 50 jobs, if plans get the go-ahead.

The land, bordering Sheffield Road and Tankersley Lane, has been unused since the school relocated in 2006.

But now an application has been submitted to create a 58-bedroom care home on the brownfield site. Pensioner Margaret Hague, who lives opposite the development, said she hoped it would benefit the area. She said: "If it is a nursing home for the elderly it will be ideal, particularly now Steadhaven has gone." Plans state there would be up to 50 jobs including day and night carers, domestic staff and catering assistants. An estimated 24 parking spaces and eight cycle spaces would be incorporated onto the 3840 hectare site.

But Coun Steve Sylvester has concerns this might not be enough, given the current parking problems in the area.

He said: "Obviously it is to be hoped that there is adequate parking as we've been going through the parking problems that we already have in Hoyland Common for over 12 months now. If we're not careful it could add to them."

Coun Sylvester said he had listened to several complaints by residents who were worried the proposal would increase the volume of traffic on their road.

"They have been complaining about the amount of traffic they get already and were worried the entrance is going to come off Tankersley Lane.

"But in terms of employment for local people it should be a good thing. We need more money and jobs invested in the area.