East Devon Care Home Approved

Tetlow King Planning (TKP) have been successful in obtaining planning permission and listed building consent on behalf of Salston Manor Limited for a care home at the site of the now vacant Salston Manor Hotel on the outskirts of Ottery St. Mary.  We acted as planning agents for the applications and were assisted by KWL Architects and Pinnacle Transport.

The applications involved a site located within the open countryside outside the development area of any settlement, as defined by the development plan. The vacant hotel is an impressive Grade II Listed Building of high quality but has suffered from under investment in recent years. The listed building has also been adversely affected by the construction of unsympathetic and inappropriate extensions up until the 1980s.

The proposals were for the demolition of the inappropriate modern extensions, the construction of a new and substantial contemporary extension and the conversion of the existing listed building to create a 77 bedroom care home.  The design and concept evolved following prolonged discussions with the planning and conservation officers of East Devon District Council. The negotiations were prolonged but ultimately beneficial, resulting in a sensible compromise between the Council and the landowners.

TKP were able to explain and define the existing and projected high levels of need for such care homes; with the  region and district having some of the highest rates of growth of elderly people in the country. We were able to explain and relate this need to government and local planning policy.  KWL Architects were able to produce and amend the originally proposed design of the extension and treatment of the listed building to preserve and enhance the character of the building and meet the concerns of the Council.  We also had to address fears concerning the impact on medical services in this rural area by explaining the licensing system and the planning policy relevant to this issue.

The successful application is testament to the benefits of project team working and the experience of TKP and KWL Architects in the care sector. Tetlow King Planning’s articulation of specific planning considerations relating to the ageing population were crucial to the successful outcome. The project will entail major investment in this listed building, securing its future for many years and providing a much needed care home in a high quality location.