Former hotel in Torquay is granted permission for open market flats

A former hotel in Torquay is to be converted into 14 flats. Brampton Court Hotel, on St Lukes Road South, will be the first in Torbay’s pioneering Hotels to Homes scheme in which hotels will become social housing.

A former hotel in Torquay is to be converted into 14 flats.
Brampton Court Hotel, on St Lukes Road South, will be the first in Torbay’s pioneering Hotels to Homes scheme in which hotels will become social housing.
But developers Bramcourt Ltd has been given planning permission for market-rate homes that may deliver no affordable housing at all.
Torbay Council’s planning committee unanimously supported the proposal after members said it would bring a brownfield site back into use and help address a pressing need for more homes.
Torbay has been set a target by the government to build nearly 1,000 homes every year.
But planning committee member Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem, Tormohun) claimed it is a “missed opportunity” and he is “disappointed” the council hadn’t really pushed for what it wanted through the planning process.
He said it is frustrating that the number of homes is below the threshold for delivering affordable housing.
Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) shared those frustrations, but said it is time to “get real on housing in the bay” and the site is designated for housing in the neighbourhood plan.
The council has recently expressed its desire to take ownership of the property once it is developed and then let it to local people on the housing waiting list.
The authority has financial support from the government for its Hotel to Homes project, believed to be the first in England, and further investment from the Devon and Torbay devolution deal.
By increasing social housing by re-purposing small and prominent brownfield sites in the bay, the council says it can meet local needs and contribute to the regeneration of Torbay.
Brampton Court Hotel, a Victorian villa which was extended, closed several years ago and was most recently used as temporary student accommodation. It has existing planning permission for 14 supported living units.
Torbay councillors gave consent for it to be converted into 10 one-bed flats and four two-bed flats with seven car parking spaces, including a disabled bay, amenity space and bin and cycle stores.
Local residents and the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum raised concerns over the limited parking and said there was pressure for on-street parking.
But the meeting heard that surrounding roads with unrestricted on-street parking spaces had capacity for 71 more vehicles after the applicants conducted a survey using a nationally recognised method.
Agents for the applicants, Co Create Architects, said there would be a sensitive approach to the building, with areas of the original structure restored, and clutter and unsightly features removed.
Local resident Julie Brandon said the council had “misled” the public as they had been led to believe none of the homes would be available for open market housing.
She said there should have been more engagement with the local community.
Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) said if he was the developer, he would  be applying for open market housing in case the deal did not come off with the council.