Plans for a 66-bed three-storey care home on the outskirts of Holt should be refused, according to council officers.

Members of North Norfolk District Council's planning committee are due to decide on Friday whether or not to allow the building for older people to be built on land off the A148 Cromer Road, next to the Heath Drive roundabout.

But a council officers' report on the plan recommends the application be refused because of its large size, potential impact on the area and "lack of visual interest".

The report, prepared for Friday's meeting, says: "The building would be an immense structure which would appear far more suited to a city centre or a more truly urban location.

"It is difficult to see how the proposed development would find any real resonance in a rural market town like Holt where the buildings are entirely of more modest scale."

The report goes onto say that while the design is more varied than an earlier version, "there is a disappointing sameness and regularity about the resultant external appearance".

It also says: "The site layout contains a distinct lack of meaningful quality outside space that could be enjoyed by the residents and staff at the care home."

The care home, proposed by Yorkshire-based firm LNT, would mean the equivalent of up to 60 full-tme jobs, including care workers, catering staff and domestic assistants.

LNT's design and access statement says: "The proposed care home scheme should provide a form of development that would positively enhance the character of the surrounding area, whilst also offering an important local community service and employment."