Shock new plans for Ottery’s Salston Manor Hotel
Care home bid scrapped in favour of residential scheme with community perks
SHOCK new proposals to transform the closed Salston Manor Hotel into homes have been uncovered by the Ottery Herald.
A mystery developer hopes to revamp the once family-run business into a ‘community focused’ residential scheme with facilities for townsfolk.
The revelation comes two years after controversial plans to turn the former hotel into a 76-bedroom care home were given the go-ahead.
Civic leaders have since expressed concerns that the premises has fallen into disrepair.
A Herald probe – that this week led to a London-based firm of solicitors acting on behalf of ‘new’ Salston owners – can today reveal completely different blueprints are in the offing.
The fresh scheme, which is still in the hands of architects, will focus on homes but will feature recreational facilities like a swimming pool, spa and gym for all town residents to use.
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“The key idea is to bring the property back into use within the community. A revised application is currently being drawn up for a residential scheme,” said a spokesman for Jirehouse Capital – the firm representing currently anonymous would-be developers.
He added: “Key elements of that scheme are to keep and restore the main house, remove modern extensions and replace them with a modern design which complements the original part of the property.
“It’s a sensible re-working of the property.
“It’s a residential scheme that’s community focused with recreational facilities, like a swimming pool, spa and gym that can be used by existing residents.
“There had been a corporate acquisition of the site.
“The property itself had not been sold. The company that owned it has been bought by someone else especially for the purpose of carrying out a redevelopment.”
“Our clients are good developers.”
The spokesman added that no ‘final decisions’ have been made on proposals – and designs won’t be revealed just yet.
The Herald reported in May 2009 how plans for a care home were granted planning permission despite objections.
Work would have seen modern extensions at the site demolished along with its squash courts and swimming pool, and new constructions erected.
