A NEW set of plans for the demolition of a former care home in Poole and its replacement with two blocks of flats have been submitted.

Having had a previous application refused last year, Domesticus Ltd has drawn-up new proposals for Avonwood Manor in Nelson Road which would see 25 flats built across the site.

It said "significant improvements" had been made to the scheme in a bid to win planning permission.

The building has most recently been used as a home in multiple occupation (HMO) since its use as a care home was stopped with the facility deemed to be "outdated".

Enforcement action has been taken by the council against the current use of the site.

A similar planning application was rejected by the council last year due to concerns about the loss of the care home and the scale of the proposed replacement buildings.

But during pre-application discussions, council planning officers were said to be more favourable of the new plans.

This included changes to the design of the proposed new blocks which would be built to look like Edwardian Villas.

Twenty-five flats would be built between the two new buildings, most of which would be either one- or two-bedroom.

Since the pre-application discussions took place, the designs have been further revised in a bid to win planning permission from the council.

"Whilst maintaining the elements of the pre-application scheme which led the planning officer to suggest that in-principle support was likely to be achievable

for the loss of the existing building and for increasing residential density on the site, significant improvements have also now be made to address the council’s concerns over the design, site-to-plot ratio and the gap between buildings," a statement submitted with the application says.

"Both individually and cumulatively, each feature of the revised proposals helps to bring forward a pragmatic and policy compliant scheme to help boost

housing supply on vacant plot and at a time where there is a much-needed

demand for new housing."

The application will be considered by council planning officers in the coming weeks.