A FORMER care home could be demolished to make way for nine newly built terraced properties in Shoebury.

Southend Council has received a planning application for the former Jospeh House Nursing Home, in Elm Road.

The care home, which cared for people aged 65 and over, closed in September 2021. This was due to the “building being no longer fit for purpose” as a care home “without an extension”.

It was first opened as a care home back in 1988 after a pair of semi-detached houses were combined to form a nursing home.

Fresh plans are seeking to demolish the vacant care home and build nine new homes.

Tony Cox, Conservative councillor responsible for West Shoebury ward, said: “I support these plans.

“I am supportive of it as there is nothing you can do it with that site now. There is already housing in the area.

“It is one of the Brownfield site developments that make sense to me. It has already been vacant for a while now too, so I am support the plans.”

The applicant, “Mr Khan”, says the proposal has been carefully designed to allow a slightly more modern take on a three-bedroom home whilst keeping the theme of family homes which is “the prominent theme on Elm Road”.

All nine terraced homes will be two-floored and have three bedrooms.

The proposed plans would only require internal alterations.

Those behind the application add: “This site has been subjected to vandalism in recent years due to being derelict.

“This site used to house a residential home which failed to stay open. This site must be developed in some capacity.

“This proposal follows a positive pre-app discussion for the overall scheme with the nine new-build dwellings fitting nicely into the landscape while having truly minimal impact on surrounding families.

“This new design has hugely improved the visual impact.