A FORMER care home in Southbourne could be demolished to make way for a block of flats.

Caleb Development has submitted plans to redevelop the Overcliff House site to house a block of nine two-bedroom apartments.

It follows the closure of the Cellars Farm Road care home two years ago due to “viability issues” and the demolition of the building has already been approved.

The developer had originally planned a 10-flat block but this was scaled back after Bournemouth council raised concerns about the size of the scheme.

It said the new proposal would redevelop the site in an “efficient manner” and was of a scale consistent with other nearby buildings.

“The proposed development is aimed at a mix of occupiers, including first-time buyers, and seeks to fulfil a strong demand for new housing in the Southbourne area,” a statement submitted with the planning application says.

“As such, the proposal has been designed to be reflective of the requirements of the intended purchasers.”

Overcliff House closed two years ago and is now only used by its owner as a home.

It had catered for 18 people and specialised in dementia care but the statement says it became unfeasible to continue running it.

If approved, the new block would provide nine two-bedroom apartments with nine parking spaces and a cycle store.

The statement adds: “The layout of the scheme is intended to create a high quality, sustainable development that provides a home for a mix of people to live, whilst safeguarding the character of the area.

“To ensure the development provides a high standard of living for future occupants, all of the units will be laid out in an efficient manner with minimal amounts of ‘dead space’ such as corridors and poorly shaped rooms.”

The application will be considered by BCP Council planning officers in the coming weeks.