Sidmouth: Plans to build on former council offices rejected

Proposals for the Sidmouth site would have included a 70-bed care home and 53 assisted living apartments

Planning permission to replace former Devon council offices with a care and retirement development has been rejected.

Members of the public strongly opposed the plans this week at an East Devon District Council (EDDC) meeting.

Proposals for the Sidmouth site would have included a 70-bed care home and 53 assisted living apartments.

The old offices were severely damaged by fire in a suspected case of arson last March.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said developer McCarthy and Stone also wanted to construct 33 apartments for over-60s, as well as four semi-detached homes, and three non-age restricted townhouses.

The developer said the work would "help and contribute towards" provision of "a five-year supply of housing", and create jobs.

The old offices were severely damaged by fire in a suspected case of arson last March.

Objector Michael Temple said the area needed "something much, much better" and that the development was "poorly designed".

He said: "[The] design is undistinguished, off-the-peg, alien, like an urban institution with large side walls without windows, all out of keeping with the town and immediate area and failing to reflect the town's vernacular".

Sidmouth Town Council supported the non-age-restricted houses, but not the care and retirement parts of the proposed development.

A former caretaker's building would have been kept, with another purpose-built structure erected, for bat habitats.