A CARE home in Boscombe which shut earlier this year after “serious concerns” were raised by care watchdog inspectors could be converted into a block of more than two dozen flats.

Plans have been submitted to “remodel” the Merstone Hall facility into 28 flats by Bournemouth-based HB Properties and Letting Ltd.

Under the proposals lodged with Bournemouth council, parts of the building and a garage would be demolished with extensions built in other areas to accommodate the flats.

The building in Florence Road has been empty since the care home closed at the end of March after three weeks in special measures.

An initial unannounced three-day inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found a number of issues including a lack of staff on duty, most members of staff not speaking English as a first language, inaccurate records and no repositioning of people at risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Inspectors found 12 breaches of regulations and ordered improvements be made.

However, a return visit found that not enough had been done to address their concerns.

Speaking at the time, CQC deputy chief inspector of adult social care, Debbie Ivanova, said: Our inspectors met with the provider and registered manager of the service on March 13 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.”

Now an application has been put forward seeking permission to redesign the three-storey building, which had housed 35 elderly people requiring support, into a block of 28 flats, 23 of which would be one-bedroom with the other five having two bedrooms.

The grounds of the building would be converted to house 23 parking spaces.

A decision on whether to grant permission for HB Properties and Letting Ltd’s scheme will be made by council planning officers in the coming weeks.