PERMISSION has been granted to develop a former NHS property in Taunton into homes for older people.

The proposals for the scheme at Lyngford House have won conditional approval from Somerset West and Taunton Council's planning committee.

The house itself will be converted and refurbished to provide three apartments and communal facilities.

The scullery will be replaced by an apartment block, while the listed coach house and stables will be converted into three houses.

A conference centre will be demolished along with an apartment block, and the Lyngford Lane site entrance will be closed and the Selworthy Road entrance relocated with a new drive installed.

A previous planning permission granted for the former NHS premises had expired in 2018.

Oliver Hunter, chief executive of Bournemouth-based developers Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group Ltd (AHH), previously told the County Gazette: "We’re very excited to be developing out the Lyngford House site.

"It will deliver 45 top quality new-build apartments and houses for older people, not to mention the conversion of the listed house.

"This will safeguard the heritage of the building for future generations and deliver much needed affordable housing."

AHH has also developed the Platinum Skies apartments for older people on the site of the former Quantock House office block, in Taunton's Paul Street.

AHH, previously known as Quantum, bought Grade II listed Lyngford House from the NHS for £1.1million in 2017.

The four-acre site was prior to that used as a training and conference centre by the NHS, which deemed it surplus requirements.

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