A former hotel and restaurant in Newton Poppleford is set to become a 13-bed care home after planning chiefs approved its conversion.

Brandon Care Ltd now has the go-ahead to develop Hillside House into a ‘vibrant place of interest’, with a children’s play area, a gallery and workshops for local artists.

The vacant Exeter Road property is set to be ‘sympathetically’ developed and extended to include a communal lounge dining room, a conservatory and spaces on the first floor to enjoy the panorama over the 16.5-acre site.

The move will create around 23 jobs.

Planning officers said: “The proposal is considered acceptable as it would convert an existing vacant building in the countryside to provide a care home and it has been established there is not commercial interest for reuse as a boutique hotel. Further, the building’s conversion would provide jobs for local people and a safe highway access.”

Brandon Care Ltd wants to create a ‘unique’ care facility for the area that, it says, will be a first for the area. It plans to add chickens and ducks to have fresh eggs daily, and a sanctuary for three ponies at the 16.5-acre site.

Planning documents say the business will break even with only six of the beds occupied each month and there has already been interest, mainly from within Newton Poppleford.

Hillside House will run alongside the firm’s two other two homes in Exmouth.

Brandon Care Ltd bought the vacant property last summer, but it was occupied by squatters and hit by vandals before the sale was finalised.

Owner Wendy Marsh said, at the time, it meant there was more work to do but she was undeterred.