Wellingborough Road firm Rochmills has revealed plans for the 0.7 acre site in Burleigh Road, Kingsthorpe Hollow.
The scheme would see three empty houses in neighbouring Knightley Road knocked down and a used car showroom on the site also demolish
ed.
In their place would be built a 73-bed care centre for people with "severe ailments" who need 24-hour care.
In documents which have been submitted to the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), the company said the project was designed to fit in with the mainly residential area.
They said: "The site has been owned by the applicant for a number of years and is located in a predominantly residential area, close to a main route to the town centre.
"Its location is seen as an ideal site for a specialist care home facility."
The company said that, given the vulnerable nature of the people who would live at the centre, security would be an important aspect of the development, with security gates and key-coded doors used to access the building.
The firm said: "Security within all care home developments is a key consideration, particularly when caring for specialist needs.
"The layout of the building, number and position of entrances, servicing arrangements, boundary treatments and how both the public and residents move around have been carefully considered."
Plans for the development were submitted to the WNDC this month and the development agency is expected to make a decision on the scheme later in the year.
Rochmills is also currently working on the redevelopment of the vacant St Edmund's Hospital site in Wellingborough Road.
The latest plans for that scheme are due to be discussed by Northampton Borough Council's planning committee tonight.
