PLANS to convert a historic home and associated premises in Taunton into extra care housing are to be unveiled for the first time.

Property company Quantum, which specialises in the elderly care sector, wants to turn Grade II listed Lyngford House into an affordable retirement community.

A public exhibition of the proposals is being held at the Selworthy Road site over three days next week.

A Quantum spokeswoman said: "Quantum is proposing new affordable extra care housing for older people on this former NHS site.

"Members of the public are invited to come and view the plans for this proposed redevelopment, ask the team any questions and give feedback."

Quantum, which is also building a retirement complex with a 62-bedroom care home and 51 extra care apartments on the site of the now demolished Quantock House, in Paul Street, bought Lyngford House, in Priorswood, from the NHS for £1.1million a year ago.

Quantum head of community engagement, Kate Greatrix, said then that the Priorswood development would provide extra care housing "in a beautiful setting" and create jobs and training opportunities.

She added: "It is very early days but we plan to sensitively renovate Lyngford House, the stables and the coach house into one and two-bedroom apartments with some new extra care housing in the grounds.

"We pride ourselves on communicating, engaging and listening to the views of local residents and we look forward to meeting and engaging with the community of Priorswood."

Lyngford House has been empty since February 2015, when it was declared surplus to NHS requirements by Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group.

NHS Property Services had inherited the four-acre site from the former Somerset Primary Care Trust as part of the 2013 health reforms.

The venue was previously used by the NHS as a training and conference centre.

As well as the main building, the site comprises an adjoining cottage and stable block dating from around 1830, a 1980s 18-bedroom hotel block, a detached conference building, parking and grounds.

The house was originally built for John Roy Allen, from a prominent West Country family whose relatives lived there for generations.

After the Second World War, the estate was bought by the Taunton and Somerset Hospital and for many years it was due to become the county town’s main hospital before the plan was dropped in the 1970s.

*The exhibition is on Thursday, January 18, from 2pm to 6pm; Friday, January 19, from 2pm to 7pm; and Saturday, January 20, from 10am to 2pm.