PLANS have been submitted to Somerset Council to demolish Burnham-on-Sea's Priory Court Care Home which closed in 2022.

Country Court Care Ltd hope to build a new 70 bedroom care home on the same site, as well as parking provision and associated works.

According to the plans, the current building's historic nature means it's not suitable for an up-to-standard modern care home facility.

Problems with the existing building include inadequate corridor widths, changes in level across floors, disproportionately high and low ceilings, poor natural light, and poor communal spaces.

In regards to the proposed new building, the design and access statement reads: "The design concept seeks to replace the existing buildings with a new collection of buildings which respond to the site in a similar way to the existing buildings, but with bespoke structures which are fit for purpose.

"The forms are presented as a series of four elements which house the main bedroom accommodation which are then linked with circulation and communal activity spaces."

If the plans are approved, the applicant has stated that key site features at Priory Court such as the mature trees and lawn area will remain for the benefit of the residents.

All residents would have access to the outdoors, even on upper floors, and an internal path with circle the building, passing by landscaped courtyards and communal areas.

Each of the 70 proposed bedrooms would feature an en-suite bathroom, and be fitted to a high standard.

The facility would have all of the ancillary spaces required in a modern care home including a nurse space, and assisted bathrooms.

Plans for the communal spaces include a café, salon, and cinema.

Renders of the proposed new building depict a modern yet homely looking site, surrounded by grass and trees.

The walls would be made of traditional red bricks, with pitched, tiled roofs of a similar traditional colour.

Retro-style lamp posts adorn the proposed car park, which leads to the main entrance foyer.

The windows would be surrounded with modern red frames, and a pergola/facade area would be constructed to give residents an outdoor area which is sheltered from the rain.

Updates to the application can be viewed by searching reference number 11/23/00124 on the Somerset Council website.

Comments are welcome until Friday, February 2, and approval could be given by Saturday, February 3 at the earliest.