Plans to knock down a 14-bedroom property next to a retirement home in Exmouth have been rejected by East Devon District Council (EDDC).

Councillors on the planning committee threw out plans to replace the early 20th-century building at 65 Salterton Road in Exmouth, known as 'Chestnuts'.

Concerns were raised over the size of the proposed replacement and its potential impact on residents of neighbouring retirement home, Bronte Court.

The applicant, a Mr D Crooker, wanted the large house of multiple occupation demolished and replaced with a new nine apartment building, containing a mixture of three and four-bedroom flats.

He also wished to extend the number of car park spaces at the front to 18, two for each apartment.

The property used to be a care home before being converted. The back was extended in the 1980s and 1990s to create two new single-storey buildings.

The new flats would have required a third storey, one more than now. Some councillors worried that the new property would have been too bulky for the area and would have intruded on the privacy and quality of life of residents next door.

Exmouth Littleham councillor Nick Hookway (Independent East Devon Alliance and Democratic Alliance Group) said his main concern was "the harm that it will cause the residents of Bronte Court."

He said: "I believe that it is the duty of this committee to protect those people who live in sheltered accommodation such as Bronte Court. These residents I classify as vulnerable. Let's face it, many of us will end up in such accommodation and it's not a pleasant prospect."

Bronte Court is a three-storey development of 44 one and two-bedroom retirement homes built in 2007 on land previously occupied by a large Victorian villa.

He continued: "I have noted in the past that some residents in such situations literally lose the will to live, especially when they have to deal with the ongoing pressure and hassle that a planning application like this can bring. As a council, I believe we should be protecting vulnerable residents from this type of pressure."

Councillor Bruce De Saram (Conservative), also representing Exmouth Littleham, agreed with the sentiment. He raised issues about the bulk and size of the proposed property, including its additional floor. He also worried about "significant harm" to Bronte Court residents.

"The design could be classified as unpleasant, too large and a mass too great," he said.

Malcolm Gigg, an architect speaking on behalf of the applicant, said that the additional floor would not intrude on the privacy of neighbours as the upper windows would be above eye level and only the sky could be seen from them. He also noted that greenery would shield the property lower down.

Councillor Philip Skinner (Conservative, Tale Vale) spoke in favour of the application, saying: "I think it's making really good use of a particular building and bringing it into the modern-day."

Despite being recommended for approval by council officers the plans were ultimately rejected with five votes for refusal, three against and two abstentions.