A CARE home that “cannot accommodate residents’ needs” could be demolished and replaced with a brand new facility.

The application to replace Chaplin Lodge on Nevendon Road was sent to Basildon Council last week.

The plans are to knock down the 66-bed complex and build a new 58-bed home in its place.

In the application submitted on the council’s planning portal, developers Connect Space said existing facilities at the home are not able to cater for all residents’ needs.

It said: “The existing bedroom sizes are not up to modern standards and it is near impossible to accommodate specialist hoist and lifting equipment.

“The majority of the rooms only have wash hand basins and no private showering facilities are provided.

“All bedrooms will be a minimum of 20 square metres with en‐suite facilities.

“Additional day space areas are also proposed to improve the resident’s quality of life and support independent living. Garden access is provided to most of the ground floor bedrooms to promote the use of outdoor space.

“A secure courtyard allows for safe garden access to vulnerable patients which dementia.”

Chaplin Lodge, managed by Runwood Homes Senior Living, is rated as “requires improvement” by CQC, following an inspection last year.

The report found that many residents were left feeling concerned due to a lack of staff numbers.

In a report later in the year in October, the watchdog said more staff had been recruited and they received a “robust induction” but overall the home still needed to improve.

In the care home’s application, it states all 58 bedrooms would have en-suite bathrooms or wetrooms, with large windows in each room to allow for more natural light.

The home also wants to include a central cafe to act as a “dementia cafe” for family visits and activities to form “positive memories”.

The home also wishes to reserve a space for a hairdresser on the first floor, with the aim of bringing in a business from the area to cut residents’ hair.

The plans will be decided by the council later this year.