Plans for 54-bed mental health hospital approved

A mental health hospital with more than 50 beds is set to be built near a primary school despite more than 200 objections from the public questioning the suitability of its location.

Exeter City Council first gave planning permission for the Cygnet Health Care unit in the Birchy Barton area in 2018 but no building work has taken place on the field near St Nicholas Primary School.

The council has now approved some alterations to the original plans and said building must start within three years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

In its application, Cygnet said there was a growing need for mental health care facilities in the area.

The first consultation received 235 objections, including one from the headteacher of the local primary, who said allowing the hospital so close to the school would be unacceptable.

In its original plans Cygnet said the new unit would contain 17 beds for men with acute mental health needs, 21 beds for men who require a period of longer term mental health rehabilitation and 16 beds for women who require a low secure environment for treatment of an emotionally unstable personality disorder.

The firm, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US care provider, Universal Health Services, said it expected to employ about 150 people to provide 24-hour care for inpatients.

Since the original application was submitted more houses have been built in the Hornbeam Road development next to the site.

The LDRS said there was only one letter in favour of the original plan which highlighted a growing need for mental health care facilities and the importance of treating people locally.

The healthcare company came back to the council seeking to amend the plans, removing windows from the first floor and some glazing from parts of the building because offices and meeting rooms were no longer part of the proposals.

There were also plans to make minor changes to access and parking.

The changes have been approved by city council planning officers with a number of conditions, and construction must begin within three years.

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