Demolition work is set to get underway on a historic building in Burnham-On-Sea to make way for a modern new care home.
Proposals for a 70-bedroom care home on the site of a former convent were approved by Somerset Council after changes to the design of the new building were agreed to reflect its heritage.
Somerset Council’s planning committee considered the contentious plans for the former Priory Court Care Home in Oxford Street, which shut down in 2022.
The site was formerly Burnham’s La Retraite convent and school for many decades.
Country Court Care Ltd is set to demolish the existing buildings to build the new 70-bed facility with accommodation over two and three storeys.
Councillors previously raised concerns about the lack of heritage in the proposed new building and it has been agreed with the developer that several features from the current building will be reflected in the design of the new build in terms of windows and the roof.
The diocese also raised concern about the potential for disruption during the building phase and a ‘construction management plan’ has been created by the developer to directly address these and minimise noise where possible during specified hours of work.
A meeting of Somerset Council’s Planning Committee in July last year heard there had been 28 letters of objection along with formal objections from the Town Council and Conservation Officer, alongside three letters of support.
An officer’s report to the committee says: “In terms of the proposed scheme, the care home would be formed with a new collection of buildings which respond to the site in a similar way to the existing buildings, but with bespoke structures which are in the applicant’s view, fit for purpose.”
“The proposed development would, by virtue of its form, design and materials have no adverse impact on the character of the area.”
