A 'major planning application' for a four storey retirement apartment block and two storey office building in Exmouth has been submitted to East Devon District Council.

The proposed 'Extra Care' accommodation building slated for land off Salterton Road, adjacent to the Tesco superstore, is for a four storey building suitable for residents with a 'heightened level of assisted care requirement'.

The application from The Planning Bureau Ltd, on behalf of S Paull, was submitted just before Christmas and was prepared by Stride Treglown for YourLife Management Services Ltd, which is a joint venture by McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd and Somerset Care.

The so-called 'Retirement Living Plus' development is designed for customers aged 70 and over and offers retirement apartments with management services, domestic assistance, personal care and additional support.

Here's how the developer describes the proposes four storey retirement block: "This offers an attractive alternative for people seeking additional support but who wish to retain independent home ownership and do not want to move into residential care.

"The retirement element of the scheme comprises of 59 self-contained units specifically designed for the elderly, as well as communal facilities in the form of a homeowner's lounge, full table-service restaurant with meals prepared freshly on-site, wellness salon, guest suite, internal refuse room and mobility scooter store, and permanent facility for day and night accommodation for staff.

"Additionally, there are 34 vehicular parking spaces and extra three for disabled parking."

The office building part of the planning application will comprise of 645sqm floor space, over two floors, and will come with a car park for 26 vehicles and an extra five spaces for vans.

The developer has submitted the application based on comments from East Devon District Council after a similar application in 2016 was turned down by the council.

"The proposal is to develop on the long-term vacant site adjacent to Tesco superstore with an architecturally sensitive Extra Care scheme of four split level storeys and a two storey office building," explains the developer.

"These proposals respond to the surrounding built form and materials. The scheme also shows allowance for site specific constraints and opportunities whilst respecting existing amenities."

The planning application must now go before planners at EDDC. No date has yet been set for it to be seen by councillors.

If you would like to see the full application click on the red button below.