Fresh plans to replace a community centre in Ottery St Mary with almshouse-style homes have been adapted to accord with the Local Plan.

Application 22/2305/FUL was approved in July, and included 'replacing the community centre with four residential flats (almshouses).

Read more: Four new homes will be built on Ottery community centre

The plans have been adapted to include the East Devon Local Plan for Ottery St Mary and West Hill. 

The application says: "The amendments to the design and internal layout would significantly reduce the need for excavation and ground works, improving viability of the scheme, providing first-floor access through an integral staircase."

Pedestrian access to the new site has also been altered, after comments from members of the public, the application says this will 'improve safety and enhance the overall appearance within the street scene.

"Refuse collection has been addressed by providing a dedicated space that is visually hidden.

"The lowered roof height also reduces massing, ensuring the retention of views from the car park on the opposite side of Brook Street - to the east of the site - of the historic skyline to the north.

The rest of the site will be the same as it was when the plan was approved in July.

The community centre building is between Brook Street and Sandhill Street, facing south towards Brook Street and accessible from the street.

To the rear of the Community Centre is Robert Hone House; a block of four residential flats that replaced almshouses that once occupied the same location. The almshouses within Robert Hone House are managed by the Ottery Feoffee Charity.  

The reasons stated for closing the site at the time was: "The Trustees of the Ottery Feoffee Charity know that the Community Centre building is under-utilised and is becoming increasingly expensive to repair and maintain due to its age and design.  

"With regard to the use of the building and the financial income its use generates, the Community Centre competes with The Institute, located nearby on Yonder Street, which is understood to be used much more regularly. For example, The Institute hosts the Ottery St Mary Community Market and various other community group meetings and activities each week."