New lease of life for Torquay villa

Planners unanimous over plan for old probation offices

One of Torquay’s historic Victorian villas is to be given a new lease of life.

The run-down Thurlow House in Thurlow Road, most recently home to offices of the Probation Service, is to be transformed into 11 new apartments.

Seven of them will be in a revamped version of the main house, while the other four will be in a ‘coach house’ building alongside. The latter will replace some of the existing extension which were added to the villa in recent years.

Architect Chris Kenny, on behalf of applicants McCarthy Contracting and Development, said: “This project provides an opportunity to restore the status of the villa within the conservation area, while creating 11 much-needed residential units.

“We think it’s a really sensitive development on a brownfield site. It will support a local developer and local workers.”

The Torquay Neighbourhood Forum said it had some concerns about the loss of historic windows in the property and limited car parking, but felt the benefits significantly outweighed the harm.

Cllr Mandy Darling (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said the development would deliver housing that was ‘desperately needed’, while committee chairman Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary) added: “What a dramatic improvement this will make. Being a person who loves his heritage, I’m delighted with this plan.”

The committee voted unanimously to approve the plan.