A CARE home in Highcliffe that closed earlier this year months after an investigation after the unexpected death of a resident could be knocked down.

Burry and Knight is seeking permission to demolish Newtown House nursing home and replace it with a three-storey block of 23 flats.

“The proposal will make more efficient use of brownfield land to provide 23 dwellings in this sustainable location,” consultancy CL Planning says in a statement on its behalf.

The CQC launched an investigation at Newtown House in January after incidents relating to the safe management of medicine and an unexpected death.

Five months later the home in Waterford Road closed, despite no enforcement action being taken.

Christchurch council granted planning permission for major extensions to the home in 2017 and this is used by the developer as justification for the redevelopment of the site into flats.

“Whilst the building footprint and plot coverage is greater than that of the existing building, it is less than that of the recently approved extension,” its statement adds.

“The proposed layout, scale and appearance of the building and landscape of the site make efficient use of the site and have been carefully designed to respect the features and characteristics…of the surrounding area.

“[It] is appropriate to the physical and visual character of the area and will not cause detriment to highway safety or neighbouring amenity.”

If approved, the building would house six one-bed, 14 two-bed and three three-bed flats alongside 23 parking spaces.

No affordable housing would be provided with the developer saying the development would be unviable if provision was made.

Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council said it supported the proposals “in general” as it “removes an unsightly, overdeveloped property from the area”.

Despite this it criticised the lack of affordable housing, the design of the roof and increasing density of development.

Two people living nearby have objected to the application.

Martin Plater, the chairman of Andrew Court Management, described the roof as “ugly” and said the proposals represented “overdevelopment” of the site.

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