A RESERVED matters application has been submitted to BCP Council after permission was granted in 2018 to demolish a care home and build a block of 36 apartments.

Pure Town Planning had permission granted to demolish the vacant Marlborough Care Home in Bournemouth Road to build a block of flats with basement parking.

A planning statement said: “It is proposed to demolish the existing vacant nursing home buildings in their entirety and erect a block of 36 residential flats comprising one, two and three bed units with associated access and basement parking provision.

“The amount of accommodation has been driven by the need to introduce a high quality and modern living arrangement on the site whilst respecting the character of the surroundings, maintaining the gaps between the associated buildings and not introducing any opportunity for overlooking on either the existing neighbouring properties on both Marlborough Road and Richmond Road, or the respective future occupiers of the proposed development.”

The plans were met with objections, however. Neighbour Joanna Williams said: “Having lived in the area for over 20 years it strikes me that there is a need for family homes rather than flats.

“Within a mile radius of this development are many more flats being built and I would question whether there are enough people interested to buy them. With basement parking and a potentially unfilled building the risk of theft and crime would increase. These new plans seem ridiculous and I strongly object to them.”

Despite this, planning was approved and a reserved matters application has now been submitted.

The approval notice said: “No development shall commence on site until details of the landscaping of the site (in respect of which approval is expressly reserved and are hereinafter called 'the reserved matters') have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.”