Former Sidmouth nursing home makes way for state-of-the-art apartments

THERE was no spade for the East Devon District Council chairman to cut the first turf at the Glenside site in Manor Road, Sidmouth last Thursday.

Instead, Councillor Graham Liverton used this giant digger, supplied by contractors Midas Construction, which is building 14 high quality apartments, in two blocks, designed by leading South West architects, Burke Richards on behalf of Glenside Partnership developers, made up of three local families who own two other nursing homes.

Graham Bess, Karen Hillier and Nicky Goss, with Karen’s son Matthew, 12, watched as digger driver Dave Elston helped Mr Liverton dig out the first turf.

Mr Liverton said: “It is always sad to see a building demolished, especially a nursing home, but having said that these are really going to be lovely apartments.”

Glenside was a blue plaque building, built a century ago, and was, at one time, a dental training centre.

Mike Dibble from Bradleys Estate Agents, said there had already been considerable interest in the apartments, which will sell from �380,000.