A HOSPICE charity would like to convert a flat into an office and counselling space after it said its hospice had become too small for all its services.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has applied for planning permission to change the use of the ground floor flat and an outbuilding in Longfleet Road.

A design and access statement submitted as a part of the application said: “As our services have grown our hospice in Poole has become too small for us to accommodate all our services and we are looking to expand into a new property to support the growing number of local people in need of our Family Support and Bereavement and Complimentary therapy serivces.

“The ground floor flat and outbuilding at 143 Longfleet Road is perfect for this expansion due to its proximity to our Longfleet Road hospice, the hospital and the major bus routes all allowing easy access for our patients and for families.

“Being ground floor it can easily be altered to add disabled access without any major alterations.

“This would allow us to continue to expand the services that we provide in Poole to help more patients and their families.”

The statement said the charity did not believe that the loss of the one flat would affect the provision of housing in the area, pointing to other similar applications that had been accepted.

“Having made an offer on this flat, subject to planning change of use, we would be most grateful for a response to this application as soon as possible as the current owner is very supportive of our hospice, and would like to sell to us, but understandably does not wish to lose other interested parties while waiting for a decision,” the statement said.

“Your support in this matter would be sincerely appreciated and would allow us to deliver significantly more support to local people at end of life and their loved ones.”

The charity has been supporting families in Dorset for more than 30 years, providing care and support for adults and their families affected by cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

A neighbour consultation on the plans will end on August 12, with no date set for a decision at this stage.