Plans have been approved to convert a community centre in Ottery St Mary into four new homes. 

An application was submitted to 'replace a community centre with four residential flats (almshouses) with access, landscaping and drainage at Ottery Feoffee Day Centre Brook Street Ottery St Mary'.

The proposed site will replace the existing community centre building with four flats within a two-storey building with a pitched roof.

Each of the flats will consist of a hall, an open-plan kitchen and living room and a bedroom. Three of the flats will have a bathroom and one of the flats will have a shower room.

The flat with the shower room is designed to be accessible by those with reduced mobility. Hard-surfaced access ramps are also planned. Secure storage space for occupiers’ bicycles or mobility scooters is to be provided at ground floor level.

Each of the flats will have its own bin store. The external materials and finishes, including red brick and natural slate, will be in keeping with the local community. 

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 application says: "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."

The application plans have been approved by East Devon District Council; you can read the full plans on the EDDC website - 22/2305/FUL