A Freshwater Bay care home has closed its doors and could be turned back into houses.
Carole and Nigel Brooke, owners of the Ancona Residential Care Home located at The Square, 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 2 houses, with 1 converting into a residential home in 1961 and the other joining in 1995.
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. They said there was also a problem with staffing.
Reverting back to 2x detached 4-bed homes would be easy the agents say, with only minor internal changes, such as removal of lifts, necessary.
The link between the 2 buildings would also be demolished so the properties could be separate dwellings.
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.
Such a shame, especially as so many patients are bed blocking at St Mary’s, I would have thought any assistance to keep the home open would have been welcomed by the Council.