A revised planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the former Dairy Crest site in the heart of Totnes.
Owners Fastglobe have submitted an outline application for the mixed-use development of the eight-acre site, and a detailed planning application for the renovation and conversion of the Grade II listed Brunel Building for community uses.
The new plans have significantly increased the number of new homes provided on the site from 25 to 79 in response to local demand and have removed 20 holiday lodges that were in the original proposals first put forward last year.
Patrick Gillies from the Brunel Park Partnership, which is delivering the scheme on behalf of Fastglobe, said: “We have significantly updated our plans to respond to the local community, who clearly felt that our original proposals did not provide enough housing and that holiday accommodation was not an appropriate use of the site.
“We have listened to those concerns by increasing the number of dwellings with a mixture of house types and by removing all the holiday accommodation, while retaining the other elements of the scheme.
“This includes restoring the historic Brunel Building to provide community facilities, 10 new commercial units for use as shops and offices opening onto a new pedestrian plaza, a major flood prevention scheme and improved access from the railway station to the river. The site’s iconic chimney will also be retained and restored.
“We hope that by transforming this landmark site, which has lain dormant for 16 years, we can bring real benefits to Totnes and the community.”
The revised plans include 29 one-bedroomed apartments, 34 two and three bedroomed homes in terraced blocks, and 16 two and three-bedroomed terraced railway cottages fronting the main approach to the site by Totnes railway station.
The Brunel Building will be transformed into a flexible community performance and exhibition space with a café, toilets, and associated accommodation. The new commercial units will vary in size to attract a range of businesses and there will be tree planting, wildflower meadows and grass banks to blend the scheme into the local landscape.
The northern part of the site will remain undeveloped as part of a flood defence scheme which has been designed in consultation with the Environment Agency to protect the town from a one in a 100-year flood event.
The application has been submitted to South Hams District Council and can be viewed here.