BOROUGH of Poole (BOP) has officially lodged plans to build a new 80-bed care home at the site of a former residential home which has been closed for two years.

The home, at the former Care UK Mitchell House site, Canford Heath, will become the first council-owned care home for more than 30 years.

It is hoped, if planning consent is agreed, the home - which will offer residential and dementia care - will be operational by summer 2019.

BOP head of commissioning and improvement Phil Hornsby said: "One of the council's priorities is promoting the health and wellbeing or our residents, especially the most vulnerable.

"Developing a council-owned care home will allow us to achieve the best value for money when placing residents in residential care and also improve our ability to place people closer to home, making it easier for friends and family to visit on a regular basis."

In December residents were invited to a drop-in session to find out more about the planned development set for the site at 2 Mitchell Road.

Borough officials in Poole have described private care home fees as being "significantly above rates acceptable to the council."

However, many care home owners locally say the current financial climate is making it hard to stay afloat. Indeed, in the past two years five care homes have closed within the borough's boundaries.

The new home will be operated independently under contract to the council.

In a letter to the town's planning and regeneration services, in support of the application, Canford Heath ward councillor Sandra Moore said: "I am delighted that Poole Council has agreed to build a council-owned, but independently operated, 80-bed care home which will provide specialist nursing and dementia care."

She added: "As a ward councillor for Canford Heath, I would like to give my full support to this planning application and very much the planning committee will grant planning permission."