Paignton hotel to become supported housing

Objections to mental health homes' plan

Plans to turn a Paignton hotel into supported accommodation for vulnerable people are likely to be agreed by Torbay Council planners at their next meeting.

The proposals will turn the Three Palms in Sands Road into 10 single-bedroom supported flats, with shared facilities and office spaces. There would be a shared kitchen/dining space for staff and residents for cooking sessions, group work and communal eating. 

The property would be run for local people by the Westward Housing Group and would offer support services to vulnerable people referred by the Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust’s mental health teams.

The service would be delivered as part of the ‘supported living framework’ and would cater for people with low to medium mental health needs, staying for between 18 months and two years.

A report to the committee adds: “This period gives residents and support staff time to work together on the support needs identified and the skills required to move on to more independent accommodation.”

Staff will be on the site from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Councillors will hear that the proposal will provide accommodation for vulnerable people in a well-connected, accessible and safe community. However, concerns have been raised over potential anti-social behaviour.

“The provision of supported living accommodation for people with care needs serves an important health function,” says the report, adding that there is a shortage of such accommodation.

It goes on to say that with the opening of two large new hotels on the seafront nearby, older properties that have been used in the past as small hotels or guest houses should be allowed to revert to residential use.

The site is surrounded by a mixture of residential and holiday accommodation.

There were 38 objections on grounds including the loss of a tourism facility, the impact on neighbouring tourism businesses and fears of anti-social behaviour, noise, nuisance and crime.

A similar proposal was refused in December due to a lack of information on the impact on tourism, flood risks and other issues.

Planning officers say: “The proposal would provide needed assisted living accommodation within Torbay and it is, therefore, considered that it would help to maintain a mixed and balanced community within the area and would provide a facility to those disadvantaged within Torbay.

“The proposal is considered acceptable in principle and would result in clear social benefits by providing a specialist form of supported accommodation to serve the residents of Torbay which would not unduly impact local amenity.

“The previous reasons for refusal are considered to have been addressed.”

Councillors are being recommended to pass the application with a number of conditions when they meet on Monday 26 June.