A FORMER care home in Bournemouth that closed after being rated ‘inadequate’ by inspectors can now be converted into 16 flats.

Similar plans for the conversion of Southwood Lodge in Southwood Avenue were refused last year due to concerns about the scale of the development.

But BCP Council has now given the green light to Elliot Heron, saying that reducing the new block by one flat had addressed its concerns.

The care home closed in 2018 after it was given an ‘inadequate’ rating – the lowest possible – by the Care Quality Commission.

Concerns were raised that staff were ignoring residents trying to get their attention and that in four days they had not witnessed anyone having been given a bath or shower.

Two months after closing the first application was submitted to remodel the building into 17 flats.

This was refused by Bournemouth council last year – a decision which was supported after it was appealed.

At the end of last year, scaled back plans for 16 flats were lodged.

Alongside reducing the number of flats, the design of the building and associated cycle store were amended to reduce their impact on future occupiers of the new building.

“It is considered that the proposal would create a carefully balanced and attractive proposal, which would not represent an overdevelopment of the site, or create an overbearing impact on the neighbouring plots,” the developer said in a statement submitted with its application.

Four letters objecting to the development were lodged with BCP Council raising concerns about the provision of only 12 parking spaces.

But in his report approving the scheme, planning officer Richard Cable said this had already been deemed acceptable by the inspector during the appeal for the previous scheme.

He approved the latest application saying the changes brought it up to the required standards for living conditions.

“It is considered that the proposal would create a carefully balanced and attractive proposal, which would not represent an overdevelopment of the site, or create an overbearing impact on the neighbouring plots,” his report said.