PLANS to demolish four disused buildings at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish will require further approval from Teignbridge Council before any work can begin, it can be revealed.

The council has determined that prior approval is required for the proposed demolition of the Tamar, Exe, Torridge and Teign buildings at the hospital site.

The decision means Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which submitted the demolition proposals, must provide further details about how the work would be carried out and how the site would be restored before demolition can proceed.

The four buildings are no longer used for healthcare and have been empty and derelict for some time, according to the Trust.

Its application proposed appointing a specialist contractor to demolish the buildings, while retaining the existing ground-floor slabs.

Teignbridge Council’s decision requires the Trust to submit full details of the proposed demolition method and restoration of the site.

This must include information on how and when the buildings would be demolished, how materials would be disposed of and how protected species would be considered.

The Trust must also provide details of measures to address surface water drainage, environmental impacts and visual amenity, as well as how the safety and amenity of hospital users and members of the public would be protected during the work.

The council has also requested photographs showing the site notice displayed at the site, together with confirmation of when it was first put up.

The application, reference 26/01313/DEM, was submitted under permitted development rules.

These rules allow certain types of development to take place without a full planning application, although some proposals require the local planning authority to determine whether prior approval is necessary.

Teignbridge Council has now determined that approval of both the method of demolition and the proposed restoration of the site is required.

No demolition works relating to the proposal can therefore begin until the council has given its written approval.