Chapman Lily Planning are always on the lookout for new planning related initiatives and solutions that might be of interest to existing and future clients. A news headline caught the eye of our Director Brett Spiller recently. Torbay Council has sought legal advice on its first ‘Hotels to Homes’ scheme, a project to convert former hotels into high quality affordable housing. The scheme is designed to increase the delivery of social housing by re-purposing small, prominent and under-used brownfield sites in the local area. It is believed to be the first-of-its-kind to specifically convert former hotel accommodation for this purpose. Torbay’s first scheme will see the former Brampton Court Hotel on St Luke’s Road South in Torquay re-purposed into 14-modern, energy efficient and sustainable homes of one and two bedrooms, subject to planning permission. The project is being carried out by a specialist local development firm with the council taking ownership at completion. Homes would then be let to eligible local households through Devon Home Choice.
Brett welcomed the initiative and commented that ‘not only does this help provide a solution to the problem of providing affordable homes but also renovates sometimes poorly maintained and empty properties into a vibrant and practical use’. Whilst Chapman Lily will monitor the progress of the initiative, Brett was not entirely convinced the scheme could be so easily replicated in say, the Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch area, due to the higher land values and the viability of such conversions.