An ‘unviable’ former Oswestry nursing home could be set to become apartments under new plans lodged with Shropshire Council.

The scheme proposed for the former Hartlands Rest Home on Salop Road by applicant Mr J Bentley would see eight one-bedroom apartments created in the now empty facility.

The home closed in December 2023 after a Care Quality Commission inspection had rated the facility as “inadequate” following an inspection conducted three months prior to the closure.

The Victorian property was marketed for sale in March with an auction guide price of £470,000.

The plans include the creation of six on-site parking spaces to create a total of eight which lowers the amount of outside space to levels below those recommended by Shropshire Council, although the applicant says extra parking would provide “most benefit” to future occupants.

“The proposal is to convert the building into 8 x 1-bed apartments, (4 ground floor and 4 first floor) with the removal of rear single-storey extensions to create more outside space,” supporting documents provided with the application said.

“The submitted drawings show six off-road parking spaces, a turning area, and enough outside private and communal amenity space for bin storage, bike storage, drying washing and sitting.

“The site is very sustainable as a residential development. It is located in a town centre close to a whole range of facilities, such as shops, supermarkets, parks, surgeries, pubs, churches and places of work which can all be reached on foot within a few minutes, greatly reducing the need for vehicles.

“The proposal puts a currently under-utilised building to full use. It provides much-needed accommodation with minimal impact in a sustainable location. As such, it is hoped that this proposal for change of use will be considered acceptable and permission granted.”

Under the proposals, a small single storey extension would be demolished to create extra space at the rear of the building, with no external alterations planned to the Victorian era structure.

Shropshire Council will decide on the scheme in due course.