A PLAN to turn a former care home in Newton Abbot into 18 homes for ‘young, working professionals’ has been given the go-ahead despite concerns over parking and potential anti-social behaviour.

Members of the Teignbridge Council planning committee heard that the property next door to 30 Courtenay Road had already been converted into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) with 14 bedrooms.

The same owner came to the committee asking to turn number 30 into a similar complex.

Paul Barclay already had permission for 12 HMO rooms and two flats, allowed on appeal after Teignbridge had said no. He came to the committee for permission to increase the number of HMO rooms to 18, removing the two flats from the equation.

He told the meeting: “This will be high-quality affordable accommodation, particularly for young, working professionals.”

He said the development next door had received ‘extremely positive’ feedback.

And, he added, the total number of occupants for the revised proposal would be the same as that for which permission had already been obtained on appeal.

“It is a scheme to make better use of the existing building,” he said. “This will be high-quality rented accommodation.”

Cllr Janet Bradford (Ind, College) said people living nearby had concerns over parking, noise and disturbance, and Cllr Suzanne Sanders (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) pointed out that Newton Abbot Town Council had opposed the plan.

But Cllr David Palethorpe (Lib Dem, Ipplepen) said the revised plans had addressed many of the issues.

And, he went on: “It’s rather sad that we are assuming this may lead to anti-social behaviour when people might be very grateful to have a home and somewhere they can sleep. This is about providing somewhere safe and warm where people can live.”

Council officers recommended that the application should be granted, and the committee voted to go along with them.