NEWTON Abbot Town Council has objected to plans to turn a former care home in the town into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO), saying the proposals would lead to an ‘unacceptable intensification of occupancy’ at the property.

The application for 30 Courtenay Road, one half of the former Dunmore care home, has also been called in to Teignbridge Council’s planning committee by district councillor Janet Bradford, who has raised concerns about parking, highway safety and the potential for anti-social behaviour.

Members of Newton Abbot Town Council were advised of the call-in when they considered the latest plans from Rosecroft Homes Limited on September 15.

The company is seeking permission to change the use of the western half of the Dunmore Care Home into HMO accommodation.

The latest application, reference 26/01249/FUL, follows the refusal of an earlier proposal in January - a separate application relating to 28 Courtenay Road was also refused.

Under the new plans, the three-storey building would be converted to provide 13 non-self-contained, single-occupancy bedrooms, with communal kitchens and other shared facilities.

A further HMO is proposed on the lower ground floor, providing five single-occupancy bedrooms along with a communal kitchen and dining room and laundry facilities.

Town councillors recommended that Teignbridge Council refuse the application, objecting on the grounds that the proposed change of use would result in an unacceptable intensification of occupancy at the property.

More than 25 objections have been lodged against the proposal, including from county councillor Jacqueline Fry (Newton Abbot North, Reform UK), who has called on Teignbridge Council to refuse planning permission.

She described the scheme as an ‘over-intensive form of development’ and said it did not adequately safeguard residential amenity, community cohesion, parking provision, security or the character of the area.

Cllr Bradford, who represents College Ward as an independent member of Teignbridge District Council, requested that the application be considered by the planning committee.

The applicant, Rosecroft Homes, has defended the principle of bringing the building back into use.

In its planning statement, the company describes the property as a ‘redundant former nursing home’ and says the proposals would bring a previously developed site back into use.

It also argues that the property's central location gives future occupants good access to public transport, local services and employment opportunities.

The latest application concerns 30 Courtenay Road, the western half of the former care home.

A separate application relating to number 28, the other half of the building, was also refused.

Teignbridge Council had been due to make a decision on the latest application by October 5.

However, with the application now called in, it will instead be considered by the district council’s planning committee.

A date for the committee meeting had not been confirmed at the time of writing.

Anyone wishing to view the plans, or submit comments, can do so via Teignbridge Council's planning portal by searching for application reference 26/01249/FUL