DEVELOPERS who previously wanted to convert a care home which closed after “serious concerns” were raised by inspectors have now applied for permission to demolish the building.

Plans have been submitted by HB Properties & Letting Ltd to demolish the Merstone Hall Care Home in Florence Road, Boscombe, and replace it with a four-storey building of 28 flats.

The building will have 28 flats, comprising of nine one-bed flats, 15 two-bed flats and our three-bed flats.

A design and access statement submitted by Spruce Town Planning as part of the application said: “The new building will occupy a similar footprint as the existing building.

“The main entrance is located at the centre of the front elevation, and leads to the communal stairwell and lift.

“Four ground floor apartments will have private patio areas, and the four top floor apartments will have access to roof terraces.

“The existing building is not of any particular architectural merit, consequently there is an opportunity to replace the building with a structure and design that will enhance the character of the area and preserve the setting of the nearby heritage asset.

“Therefore, the proposed building will have a similar scale, depth and mass as the former care home, but the appearance will ensure the new building is more appropriate for the area.”

The care home closed in 2018 after it was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

After identifying 12 breaches of regulations - and rating the home as inadequate across the board - inspectors placed the home in special measures, then attended three weeks later to see what improvements had been made.

Despite support, the home provider and registered manager had not taken the action required to improve care, the CQC said.

CQC deputy chief inspector of adult social care Debbie Ivanova explained: “Our inspectors met with the provider and registered manager of the service on March 13, 2018, to express our serious concerns and explain what enforcement action we were considering. The provider subsequently submitted an application to cancel the location of the service and the home closed on March 28, 2018.”