PLANS have been approved for the change of use of a former care home in Bridgwater town centre to become a 17-bedroom House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

Mr V Beroskin applied to renovate the former Friarn House Residential Home building in January, with the eventual plan of changing its use to a new HMO.

These plans were approved by Somerset Council on Tuesday, March 5.

In the planning statement, the applicant stated that the building could be used for Hinkley Point C workers, and prospective workers at the now announced Agratas Gigafactory in Puriton.

"This proposal will make a valuable contribution to the local housing stock providing accommodation for a proven local demand for this type of offering," the statement reads.

"With on-going requirements to provide accommodation for the work force at Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Plant set to continue and the requirement for new developments at Gravity Park, Puriton along with local demand from other sources."

Although no allotted parking is planned for the HMO, Somerset Council approved the plans on the basis that occupiers are not guaranteed spaces and owning a vehicle will be 'at their own risk'.

The former care home at 35 Friarn Street was forced to close in 2022 after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said its facilities were inadequate.

Since then, the Grade II Listed building in Bridgwater's conservation area has remain unoccupied, but a council inspection on December 7, 2023 revealed 'no significant areas of concern', according to the applicants.

Plans for the building include 17 bedrooms across the three floors, some of which would benefit from their own en-suite bathrooms, as well as communal kitchens, and toilet facilities.

Regarding the proposed internal renovations, the applicants said: "The facility will undergo re-decoration, replacement sanitary ware, new kitchen storage units and appliances, floor coverings and soft furnishings with general updating of electrical/fire detection and plumbing services."

The plans state that the basement of the building would be used for cycle storage.

Somerset Council have affirmed that no residents will be able to occupy the building until a scheme for sufficient safe on site storage of waste and recycling facilities to service the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

For more information on the application to convert 35 Friarn Street into a 17-bedroom HMO, search reference number 08/23/00380 on the Somerset Council online planning portal.