PLANS to turn a vandalised former care home into flats have been recommended for refusal after almost 50 objections.

The scheme for Pinebeach Nursing Home in Friars Cliff will go before Christchurch council's planning committee on Thursday, April 20.

But officers are recommending the proposal for 10 flats following the demolition of the existing building be turned down.

In a report to the meeting, planning officers say the proposed new building is too dominant for the prominent location.

"The limited space between the building and site boundaries restricts the opportunity to mitigate this visual intrusion and the proposal is therefore considered harmful to the street scene and to the character of the area", the report adds.

It also says it would lead to a loss of privacy for the adjacent properties, which would be harmful to the neighbours.

This recommendation will no doubt please the 47 residents who have objected to the scheme.

Their concerns include the density of the development, the 'inappropriate design', noise and disturbance and the close proximity to other houses.

Others were also worried about the impact it would have on parking and highway safety.

The care home closed in 2015, but since then residents have been calling for the disused building to be shut off over issues with vandalism and drug taking.

Previously, one told the Daily Echo: “Ever since the nursing home closed down it has been left to become more and more derelict, and has frequently been used by rough sleepers, drug takers and has recently become the target of vandals.

“The police have been called out numerous times to deal with these problems but the owners have made no attempt to secure the building. Surely valuable police resources, paid for by the public, should not be wasted protecting private property which the owners appear to have abandoned.”

There is already permission for 10 flats to be built on the site prior to the new application.

Changes to the scheme include a bigger building, with different roof features and balcony reconfiguration.