A LANDMARK hotel in Fordingbridge looks likely to become a substantial care home for the elderly.

Al Donnelly, proprietor of Fritham House nursing home at Fritham in the New Forest, is buying the Ashburn Hotel in Station Road, Fordingbridge from Garry and Terri Robson.

He has submitted plans to demolish the 20-bedroom hotel, pictured, and replace it with a 50-bedroom brick and tile care home with eight separate close care flats and staff sleeping quarters on the hillside site.

The lower ground floor would be devoted to car parking, kitchen and stores, along with staff accommodation. The upper ground floor would house 29 bedrooms built around a quadrangle with separate lounge, dining and sitting areas. First floor accommodation shows 21 bedrooms, two lounges, hairdressing salon and dining room with terrace overlooking the quadrangle. The second floor would have eight apartments.

In addition to owning Fritham House, Mr Donnelly runs Dunwood Manor and Waverley Lodge care homes at Sherfield English and Cedar Lawn at Romsey.

Mr Robson and his wife have owned the Ashburn Hotel for 21 years and are now going to concentrate their efforts on their restaurant, Little Mere, at Gorley.

"In recent years the demand for the facilities has declined somewhat and when we were thinking about putting it on the market were were approached about change of use," said Mr Robson.

The plans will be decided by New Forest District Council.