WEEKS after plans to convert a Southbourne care home into 17 flats were thrown out at appeal, a new application has been submitted.

Developer Elliot Heron has put forward a new scheme for the Southwood Avenue care home site saying it overcomes concerns raised by the planning inspector.

“The proposal put forward represents the full and effective use of this site in a way that achieves a high quality development,” a statement submitted on its behalf says.

“Care has been taken to ensure that the development appropriately fits with its surroundings with minimum impact on the character of the area.

“The design and layout proposed takes into account the need to preserve the amenities of the occupants of surrounding residential properties and future residents.”

Southwood Lodge care home closed in June last year after being rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission and has since been used as an HMO.

In July a planning application was submitted to convert the building into 17 flats but this was refused by Bournemouth council at the end of 2018.

Following this the decision was appealed while a new application for eight houses was also submitted.

This was withdrawn in April while the appeal was dismissed by a planning inspector last month.

Concerns were raised about the lack of provision for families which could occupy the larger three-bedroom flats and the small distance between the windows of one bedroom and the planned cycle store.

A third application – again for 17 flats – was submitted earlier this month which the developer says overcomes these issues.

“Whilst dismissing the scheme, the inspector accepted the impact of the building on the character of the area and neighbouring amenities but focused on design issues that led to the dismissal,” its statement adds.

The number of bedrooms planned for some of the larger flats have been reduced with no three-bedroom units now included in the plans.

Council planning officers will consider the latest scheme in the coming weeks.