Care home and housing development proposed for town

A new 60-bed dementia care home, along with dozens of new houses, could be built on the edge of Budleigh Salterton.

The scheme to develop land between Barn Lane and the B3178 has been put forward by developers Badger Homes.

Along with the care home, the proposed development would also feature 30 houses – 12 of which would be classed as ‘affordable’ – along with seven retirement bungalows, 12 retirement apartments, and two ‘home work’ units.

The proposed development site is next to a field where the same developer gained permission to build 59 homes last year.

Writing in the latest application, the developer states: “The proposal site has been brought forward by the applicant following market demand generated by the approval received for the adjacent site of 59 houses.

“The proposal would supply dementia care, affordable housing, employment associated with dementia care [and] the home work units, low cost retirement units, and open market bungalows aimed at the over-55s.”

The developer also says that the proposed land is included in the district council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, and argues that the scheme should be approved as the council’s draft Local Plan, which allocates housing sites, has not yet come into force.

The previously approved 59 homes were opposed by the Otter Valley Association – and when asked for an initial reaction to the new plan, chairman Roger Saunders raised concerns.

He said: “We don’t like building outside of the built-up area. Budleigh is just going to spread if we don’t limit building to within the built-up area.”

Mr Saunders also said that Budleigh’s assessed housing need has already been met by other developments.

The planning application will be considered by Budleigh Salterton Town Council, before East Devon District Council rules on planning permission.