Gwastad Hall was built 10 years ago and is home to 40 residents

Louise Hough, who runs Gwastad Hall in Cefn-y-Bedd, wants a planning rule overturned which says her business and nearby home cannot be sold separately.

She said the falling value of nursing homes had left her house practically worthless and she needed it to be valued separately so that her bank could see she had an extra asset to her business.

A government inspector imposed a condition on her house that it should be occupied by someone employed at the nursing home.

Therefore planners who were concerned the house could be sold recommended her request was refused .

I just need to be able to show that the investment and my life's work is valid Louise Hough

"I'm not selling; I'm not going anywhere," she said.

"This is my home, my life, and my future. I just need to be able to show that the investment and my life's work is valid.

"Currently a piece of paper somewhere says that the nursing home and my family home are one concern.

"All I am asking is that this piece of paper, wherever it is, can say that the two buildings are separate entities.

Wrexham council's chief planning officer Lawrence Isted has recommended that Mrs Hough should not be allowed to separate the ownership of the house from her business.

Sympathy

"We have every sympathy with Mrs Hough's position... the house is in the open countryside, we would not normally allow a dwelling in the countryside and it's only 10 years since it was built," said Mr Isted.

He said the inspector allowed Mrs Hough to build her house only because she successfully argued that residents would benefit from her living nearby.

One of the best is being forced into a totally untenable situation - and all over a piece of paper Mario Kreft, Care Forum Wales

"Once that condition is removed that property can be sold and then the residents would not have the kind of things that the inspector referred to," Mr Isted added.

It is not known where the 40 residents would go if Mrs Hough was forced to sell her nursing home.

"I'd have to look for another nursing home and I don't want to do that, this is a good nursing home and I think it's wrong," said Olwen James, whose husband Barry has lived at Gwastad Hall for 18 months.

Mario Kreft, head of policy with Care Forum Wales, said the episode was scandalous.

"Gwastad Hall is one of only six nursing homes left in Wrexham.

"In the last two years around 300 nursing beds have been lost in the borough due to home closures or de-registrations.

"Just when the sector needs all the support it can get, one of the best is being forced into a totally untenable situation - and all over a piece of paper. It's insane."

Wrexham council will make its decision on Monday.