CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed approval of a scheme to save a derelict Grade II listed building in Dawlish.

Plans to restore the Old Vicarage and convert it into seven homes have been granted permission by Teignbridge Council.

The building stood empty since 2003 and has been derelict since at least December 2008.

Its condition, listed status, and challenging location have made finding a viable future for the building particularly difficult.

The Vicarage Residents Group are celebrating the approval and chairman Mary Nock said: ‘For local residents, this decision represents far more than the approval of a planning application. It marks the culmination of years of determination to find a sustainable future for a building that has long been regarded as one of the town's most important heritage assets.’

Teignbridge Council has worked closely with Historic England, developer JD TOV Management LTD, and The Vicarage Residents Group to develop plans that protect the building’s historic character while bringing the neglected site back into use.

The approved plans include: three two-bedroom houses and two three-bedroom houses within the main building; a two-bedroom house in the converted coach house and a one-bedroom newly built home.

The development will restore one of Dawlish’s historic buildings, remove a longstanding source of concern for local residents, and create seven new homes.

Councillor Gary Taylor, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Member for Planning and Building Control, said: ‘The Old Vicarage has stood empty and deteriorating for far too long, and residents understandably want to see action.

‘Finding a suitable future for a Grade II listed building in such poor condition has not been straightforward. This approval reflects years of careful work between the council, Historic England, the developer, and local residents.

‘The plans will bring a difficult and neglected site back into use and provide new homes. Planning permission marks an important step forward, and we now want to see the restoration delivered.’