A NEWTON Abbot councillor has spoken out against plans to turn a former care home into a house of multiple occupation (HMO), warning the development could lead to parking problems, noise and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Jacqueline Fry, who represents Newton Abbot North for Reform UK, has objected to a new planning application to convert part of the former Dunmore Care Home in Courtenay Road into HMO accommodation.

The application, submitted by Rosecroft Homes to Teignbridge Council, proposes changing the use of 30 Courtenay Road from a care home to HMO accommodation.

A separate application concerning the other half of the former care home, at 28 Courtenay Road, was also refused.

Under the latest plans, the three-storey building would be converted into an HMO with 13 non-self-contained, single-occupancy bedrooms, communal kitchens and other shared facilities.

A further five bedrooms are proposed in a smaller HMO on the lower ground floor, along with a communal kitchen, dining room and laundry facilities.

In her objection, Councillor Fry described the proposal as an ‘exceptionally large’ HMO and said the scale and intensity of the development raised ‘significant concerns’ for neighbouring residents and the wider community.

She warned that the concentration of unrelated residents sharing communal facilities could create management difficulties and potentially lead to disputes, noise complaints and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Fry also raised concerns about the impact on the character of Courtenay Road, which she described as primarily residential.

She said the proposed development could result in increased comings and goings, visitor activity, deliveries and refuse, with the potential to cause ‘general disturbance’ to nearby homes.

Parking and highway safety were also highlighted as concerns, with Councillor Fry arguing that accommodation for up to 18 residents could increase vehicle ownership and put additional pressure on already limited on-street parking.

She also questioned whether the loss of the former nursing home had been adequately justified, saying consideration should be given to whether the building could continue to provide accommodation for elderly or vulnerable residents.

The former care home was historically used as assisted living accommodation, providing care for up to 28 residents across 31 rooms.

Rosecroft Homes describes the building as a ‘redundant former nursing home’ and says its proposals would bring a previously developed site back into use.

The company argues that the property's central location provides good access to public transport, local services and employment opportunities.

It says the accommodation would be aimed at professionals and key workers, with all proposed bedrooms intended for single occupancy.

Rosecroft Homes describes the scheme as an opportunity to refurbish and reuse the existing building while providing what it calls a ‘high quality and much needed’ form of accommodation.

However, Councillor Fry has called on Teignbridge Council to refuse planning permission.

She said the proposal was an ‘over-intensive form of development’ which did not adequately safeguard residential amenity, community cohesion, parking provision, security or the character of the area.

Teignbridge Council are due to make a decision by October 5.

To view the application, including Cllr Fry’s objection in full, visit Teignbridge Council's planning portal and enter ‘26/01249/FUL’ into the search-box.