A FORMER care home that closed down following strong criticism from a watchdog is set to be demolished more than seven years later. 

Shalden Grange care home’s owners Mr and Mrs Benepal have earmarked the now abandoned site for 13 new homes. 

Each of the proposed homes at the site in Watkin Road, Boscombe would have three bedrooms from three individual buildings fronting the road and a longer, rectangular building facing Florence Road. 

The site has also been prone to anti-social behaviour, including one case where a fire was started on the first floor with “soft furnishings” on August 14, 2023. 

Ken Parke, agent for the applicant and planning consultant, said the condition of the care home has “significantly deteriorated” in recent times. 

He said: “Despite the best endeavours of the applicants, the building is often broken into and vandalised with rough sleepers in the building. The building has been subject to significant anti-social behaviour. 

"The applicants have worked with the police and community protection officers to make the building safe and secure.  

“However, as a result, the building has metal shutters on the windows and is surrounded by Herras fencing.  

“The appearance of the site has a negative impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.” 

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors highlighted a number of concerns in their 2017 report into the now closed care home. 

Three elderly residents were “at risk of harm and neglect”, the report said, and there were “ineffective systems to protect people from abuse”. 

And then in November 2017, while under special measures by the CQC, the care home closed down unexpectedly, leaving residents just days to find new homes. 

Since then, the owner couple “actively sought” to sell the site for redevelopment but a buyer was never found, leading to them seeking planning permission themselves, Mr Parke added. 

Ken Parke, of Ken Parke Planning ConsultancyKen Parke, of Ken Parke Planning Consultancy (Image: PR)

“The care home has closed and there is no prospect of it reopening,” the agent added. “The nature of the building, the arrangement of the space and its configuration means that it is impossible to meet Care Quality Standards.  

“There are no planning policies within the Bournemouth Local Plan which seek to resist the loss of care homes or C2 uses in any event.  

“The redevelopment of the site for residential purposes is therefore acceptable.” 

BCP Council’s draft local plan has identified the site for up to 20 new homes. 

A decision will be made by BCP Council in due course.