MOVES to demolish a Victorian villa in The Avenues to make way for a block of retirement flats does not have the support of town planners.

MOVES to demolish a Victorian villa in The Avenues to make way for a block of retirement flats does not have the support of town planners.

However, they did back the demolition of two other neighbouring buildings, all at 8 Douglas Avenue, for the same scheme. McCarthy and Stone wants to demolish three buildings, all former Rolle College student accommodation at Seaview, to make way for 51 care-assisted apartments, communal facilities and parking.

But East Devon District Council’s conservation officer said the application to demolish the villa, built between 1890 and 1905, was ‘unacceptable’.

Deputy mayor Sandy Sutton said: “I feel that, apart from Save Avenues from Despoliation (SAD), we have not had much support for these villas being retained. We should take note of what the officer is saying. But the other two buildings are nothing special.”

Cllr Richard Turner said: “McCarthy and Stone are building more and more housing for elderly people, but not more doctors’ surgeries. However, we can’t talk about that because it isn’t a planning issue.”

The plans will be considered by EDDC.