AN application to demolish an existing care home and build a brand new one in its place has been submitted to planners.

25/00561/MAJ is seeking permission from Teignbridge District Council to demolish Penns Mount Care Home and build a new, 79-bed home in its place.

Located at the top of the hill of Penns Mount, the existing care home currently provides for 22 residents.

Under the proposals, the new building will be a split level design, over two and two and a half storeys.

According to the design and access statement for 25/00561/MAJ, the layout will be as follows: 13 ensuite bedrooms on the lower ground floor; 30 ensuite bedrooms on the ground floor and 36 bedrooms on the first floor.

The second floor will consist of staff areas.

The application includes provision for amenity areas such as a café, dining rooms, quietlounges, a library, private dining, cinema and a hairdressers.

It will also provide 22 car parking spaces, two of which would be disabled bays, as well as an ambulance bay.

Due to demand for quality care accommodation, the existing home has a vision to provide for a much wider community of people with varying needs in the Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot and wider Devon area, the statement says.

The existing buildings have poor energy performance, the Mid-Devon Advertiser understands.

Hence much of the building is needing a physical upgrade.

The existing building was not purpose built as a care home and therefore none of the residents’ rooms have ensuite shower or bathroom facilities, and many of the rooms are too small to easily manoeuvre a wheelchair, the planning statement for 25/00561/MAJ says.

A date of August 5 has been given for a decision to be made by Teignbridge.