A Freshwater Bay care home has closed its doors and could be turned into houses.
Owners of the Ancona Residential Care Home, in The Square, Carole and Nigel Brooke, are retiring and, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to sell the 18-bed business, are closing it down.
All the former residents have been relocated with the help of social services and staff moved on to other jobs in the care sector.
The buildings were originally two houses, with one converting into a residential home in 1961 and the other joining in 1995.
Planning refusal from IWC
Plans to increase the number of beds in the care home had been previously rejected by the Isle of Wight Council, which halted any major extensions.
Planning agents Macaire Associates said in documents that the business was no longer viable for new owners to take over as it was so small.
Staffing issues
They said there was also a problem with staffing.
Reverting back to two detached four-bed homes would be easy the agents say, with only minor internal changes, such as removal of lifts, necessary.
The link between the two buildings would also be demolished so the properties could be separate dwellings.
View the plans
To view the plans (22/00337/FUL) you can visit the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 1st April.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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