A NURSING home in Bournemouth will be demolished to make way for two blocks of flats, if plans are approved.

HB Properties & Lettings Ltd is seeking planning permission to knock down St Alban's House at 59-61 St Alban's Avenue in Queen's Park/Charminster.

The home was originally two detached properties, built in the 1930s, but they are now connected.

The application seeks to build two three-storey blocks of seven flats, for a total of 14.

This is fewer than in previous applications for the site. An original scheme for 22 flats was submitted in March 2015, and a similar follow up in October that year. Both were rejected by Bournemouth council as being 'overdevelopment'.

In November last year an application was made for one block of 17 flats.

Again, council officials ruled the scheme would be 'overdevelopment', would be out of place in the area and would provide "poor living conditions for future occupiers".

According to the developer's application statement, it sought advice from planning officers before submitting the latest application.

The statement says: "Overall, the reduction in built form was considered favourably by the local planning authority.

"The officer’s report stated 'The erection of two distinct buildings appears more in keeping with the established pattern of development in this area'."

The care home ceased to be registered with the Care Quality Commission last year. Its last inspection had been mostly favourable.

The development would consist of 12 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats.

The application states: "The proposed scheme seeks to present itself to street scene as two detached dwellings comparable to many of the large interwar dwellings on St Alban's

Avenue.

"This design brief results in a considerable decrease in the amount of built form proposed when compared to the previously refused schemes."

If approved, it will be the latest of a growing number of operating and former care home sites being converted into flats across the borough and neighbouring towns.