Glenisla Developments Ltd (GDL) said the 60-bed facility near Alyth would create a centre of excellence for dementia care.

The care home is part of a wider £50 million Glenisla Village project proposed for part of the old Glenisla Golf Course.

A masterplan prepared by KDM Architects for the site, which also includes more than 200 homes, a hotel, and retail, was approved by councillors earlier this year.

Proposals for the first phase project, consisting of the care home, 20 properties and three business units, have now been lodged with Perth and Kinross Council.

The nursing home, which includes 30 bedrooms and facilities designed for people with dementia, has been designed with input from the Care Inspectorate and the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC). It will be operated by Healthcare Management Solutions.

In paperwork lodged with council planners, a spokesman for GDL said: “We are aiming to deliver a building which meets both the highly functional requirements of the operator, is ‘cutting edge’ in terms of modern-day elderly and specialist dementia care, but at the same time will be a highly attractive and a comfortable place to live for residents.”

In a letter to planning officers in support of the plan, DSDC architect Martin Quirke said: “It is nationally recognised that the shortage of residential care, and the poor quality of existing housing, is contributing significantly to NHS and a local authority costs, a phenomenon that is much wider and more complex than the ‘bed blocking’ often referred to in the media.”

He added: “We believe that the mix of housing and residential care places to be provided in the proposed scheme would help to address challenges that are becoming increasingly important for the Perth and Kinross area, and Scotland as a whole.”

The 80-acre golf course was sold to GDL in 2016, but it was later reopened as a nine-hole course by Alth Golf Course. A refurbishment of the clubhouse forms part of the overall plan.

Spokesman Malcolm Officer said: “The 18-hole course was under-performing and had been offered for sale with outline plans for a mixed development.

“We bought the site and the course was closed down, but it was later re-opened as a nine-hole course by Alyth Golf Club.

“We want to build on the remaining nine holes.”

The nine-hole course and a refurbishment of the clubhouse form part of the overall plan.

He said: “The development will be a mix of regular homes for families and first-time buyers, but also bungalows for those who have retired.

“The idea is to give older people the chance to move into a home that they would not have to leave as they get older. If they need to make use of more care facilities and staff as time goes on, then all of that will already be available to them.”

He said: “This type of development is very popular in America and in some parts of England, but there’s not many like it in Scotland.”

Mr Officer said: “We know there have been some concerns about the impact on local roads, but we have been working with transport officers who have been supportive of our plans.

“Also, we will be phasing in work over several years, so that there won’t be a sudden impact.”