PLANS to build a 60-bedroom care home in North Street, Okehampton, have been rejected by West Devon Borough Council because of overdevelopment and highways issues.
Members of the planning committee felt the building proposed for one of the few remaining substantial areas of green space in the town would be out of scale with the size of the site, the landscaping and the highway network.
Cllr Ken Williams said: 'I think this is a wonderful site with heritage features that could be a wonderful community development. My feeling is that this is overdevelopment.'
Twenty-four letters of objection from local residents were submitted to the planning authority but the proposal was recommended for approval by council officers who said it would be difficult to refuse the principle of developing a brownfield site for this use.
Speaking on behalf of the North Okehampton Residents' Association, Bob Seaward said the proposal would have a density six times greater than a similar construction in Castle Road, Okehampton.
He said: 'Our opinion is that the dimensions and elevations on these plans would result in a very imposing and dominating construction for both surrounding residents and future occupants of the home.
Mr Seward gave committee members copies of aerial views which showed the loss of green space in this area of Okehampton over the last eight years. He said a development plan adopted by the broough council recognised the need to retain green space.
A previous plan for 32 homes on the land was also turned down by the borough council and subsequently dismissed at appeal on the grounds of privacy and overlooking of neighbours.
Planning consultant John Eaton, on behalf of the applicant, Barnfield Commercial, said the planning inspector at the appeal had accepted that North Street could accommodate traffic generated by 32 dwellings and a care home would generate 25% less traffic. The building had been designed so there would be no problems of overlooking to residents of Heather Close.
Ward member for Okehampton Christine Marsh said Okehampton already had four care homes and 50 supported living homes were being built on the site of the old Castle Hospital. She questioned the need for another care home in the town. Members were advised they should not refuse the application on this issue because it was not a planning consideration.
Cllr Bill Cann said he was concerned about the increase of traffic coming out from North Street, which was one way, and using the junction with East Street: 'It is not the best of places to come out anyway and the amount of traffic will be tremendous if this goes ahead.'
The decision to refuse the application was unanimous. Mr Eaton said following the meeting that he expected his client to appeal against the decision and he would expect them to win it.