MULTI-MILLION pound plans to redevelop a Poole sheltered housing block into 22 ‘affordable’ homes have been submitted.

Poole Housing Partnership, the arms-length organisation set up to manage council housing in Poole, is seeking permission to demolish Cynthia House and replace it with housing.

“There is an existing care home on the site that has now outlived its practical lifespan,” a statement submitted on its behalf by Mitchell Architects says.

“This is now planned for closure and demolition with all occupants having been successfully relocated.”

Poole council gave the go-ahead for the redevelopment of the site off Ringwood Road in June last year saying the sheltered housing block had become increasingly expensive to run.

Five of the properties were empty at the time with the annual loss in rent at the time totalling more than £16,000.

Councillors were told some had been advertised as being available 16 times but due to the lack of demand were no longer listed on the housing register.

Each of the residents who were forced to move out was given a home loss payment of a minimum of £6,100 on top of a £2,000 moving assistance fund.

Poole council allocated £115,000 to put together the planning application with the whole project expected to cost £3.8 million.

Should BCP Council approve the planning application, the sheltered housing block would be demolished to make way for 10 three-bed houses and 12 flats.

All would be made available on an ‘affordable’ basis with half the flats provided on a shared ownership basis.

Thirty-four parking spaces would be provided across the development.

“The proposals will contribute greatly to the affordable accommodation in the area and provide high quality, sustainable living accommodation,” the statement adds.

Last month Poole Housing Partnership hosted two consultation events outlining its plans for the site to people living nearby to the site.

BCP Council planning officers will consider the application in the coming weeks.