A FORMER care facility for people with mental health issues is to be repurposed to house the homeless.

Bournemouth council has submitted an application to its planning board to change the use of 56 Lowther Road, off Charminster Road, to a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

In a planning statement the authority says: "The proposal will provide units of accommodation with communal kitchen, bathing, living room and dining room facility, which will help the council to meet its increasing and pressing obligations and duties in respect of homelessness.

"It is not expected that there will be a discernible impact on the living conditions of neighbouring homes."

The property was used as a care home between 1992 and 1998, and then as supported accommodation for people with mental health issues from 2002 to the present.

The council says its plans, which allow for 10 residents, will reduce the level of on-site traffic and noise.

There will be no internal works beyond upgrades to facilities to meet statutory regulations.