A plot of land in Torquay which has gone unused for more than 15 years is set to be the site for dozens of new extra-care flats after planning permission was granted.

Located on McKay Avenue, the land used to form part of South Devon College before it moved to its current Long Road, Paignton, site in 2005. The Torre site has had plans approved before but it still sits undeveloped.

The latest set of plans comes from TorVista homes and details intentions to build a 72-flat extra-care facility on the plot, which sits on the edge of Torre high street, beside Kwikfit.

The building will be an L-shape, surrounding an open, communal garden overlooked by many of the apartments. Sixty one of the new flats within the seven-storey building will be one bedroomed and the other 11 will have two bedrooms.

The plans specify that this space will be for residents 'of all age ranges' who would benefit from up to 24-hour care, whether due to 'mental health or physical disability' but that they are expecting many residents to have some kind of mobility issue.

The applicants have planned accordingly, with all the units being either wheelchair adaptable or accessible, including two bariatric wheelchair-accessible apartments.

Another feature designed to accommodate independent living for those with mobility issues is the balcony glazing. This will be retractable, creating an outdoor space that can be used year-round.

There will be 20 on-site parking spaces, four of which will be wheelchair accessible and a further four will be equipped with electric car charging facilities. There will also be a separate space for residents to park mobility scooters, again equipped with charging facilities for them to use.

The building will be 100 per cent affordable housing and is expected to include rentable units, as opposed to being for sale.

Cllr Nick Pentney, who is the councillor for the ward, described the plans as 'a very promising development'.

The plans were approved unanimously.

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