Care organisations are being accused of showing an uncaring attitude towards their neighbours with plans for a “massive” development.

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy and Westward Care Ltd are hoping to create a £10.5m 80-plus-bed home on Outwood Lane in Horsforth -– but local councillors and residents are opposing the scheme.

And they are angry that a Victorian building was suddenly demolished to make way for the scheme despite that fact that they had voiced their concerns about the development at a meeting the night before.

Horsforth councillor Brian Cleasby said he and fellow councillor Chris Townsley were opposed to the scheme because of its size and were appalled by the destruction of the Victorian building.

And he accused the institute and Westward of disregarding the views of local residents.

He said: “Local people didn’t want this to be demolished. It has upset everyone.”

He added: “I have not yet met anybody who is objecting to it being a care home – but what they are proposing is massive. And they way they are going about it is by being totally uncaring.”

Although Westward have broken no planning regulations by demolishing the building, Coun Cleasby claims local people feel betrayed and angry that the demolition has taken place without them being informed.

He said there were concerns about potential traffic and parking problems if approval was given to the 89-bed home, with at least 60 staff and just 24 parking spaces.

“It is completely out of scale for the area, and bearing in mind where it’s entrance would be on the nasty bends of Outwood Lane, to have a constant stream of visitors and totally limited parking is bound to call problems.”

In a statement the Institute says: “The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (a registered charity), in association with Westward Care Limited, a Leeds-based health and social care organisation, proposes to create a state of the art care village on the site of the former St. Joseph’s Residential Care Home at Outwood Lane, Horsforth, Leeds.

“The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, whose main house is in Yeadon, Leeds, is an autonomous group of a worldwide Congregation of Roman Catholic religious women called The Sisters of Mercy. They provide a wide range of education, health and social care services to their local communities.

“The project, to be named St Joseph’s Care Village, will provide support and care services for older people from independent living through the whole spectrum of care and nursing provision to end of life care.

“The Trustees of the Institute feel that they have no alternative but to commence demolition of the existing building as soon as possible.

“This is in the interests of public safety, as the building has regrettably been frequently targeted by vandals who have ripped up floors and removed lift shaft doors. Attempts have also been made at arson.

“In light of the Trustees’ ongoing duty of care to trespassers, leaving the building as it stands is no longer an appropriate or responsible option.

“Although planning permission has yet to be received for the new scheme, the Institute and their advisers have carried out extensive consultations and are hopeful that the currently submitted scheme will be well received by the city council.

“The development of the new site will be truly good news. It will help to meet the needs of an increasingly older population within the congregation, the wider church and the local community. This flagship care facility will be sensitively and tastefully designed and landscaped to enhance the neighbourhood.”