Brownfield rebuild to deliver new homes in Brixham
Plans to turn the vacant former Jewson site on New Road, Brixham into housing have been approved by Torbay Council, paving the way for 23 two-bedroom flats on a long-underused plot near the town’s main route. The decision, issued on 10 July under application P/2025/0760, allows the demolition of the existing commercial buildings and their replacement with a part four- and part five-storey apartment block.
The scheme, brought forward by McCarthy Contracting & Development Ltd, occupies around 963 square metres of brownfield land previously used as a vehicle garage and builders’ merchant. The approval swaps approximately 1,000 sq m of former industrial floorspace for new residential accommodation – a net gain of 23 homes within Brixham’s existing urban fabric.
What’s included in the plans
- 23 two-bed apartments with a mix of layouts and private balconies to a number of units
- 12 car parking spaces plus EV charging points
- Secure storage for 23 bicycles and a travel plan to promote sustainable trips
- Communal refuse and recycling areas, alongside new landscaping
- Acoustic measures and privacy screening to protect neighbours
The council has attached a suite of conditions that the developer must satisfy before the building can be occupied. These include agreeing details of external materials, cycle storage, waste management and energy efficiency, together with flood mitigation and acoustic insulation.
Biodiversity and neighbourhood safeguards
In step with local and national policy, the permission requires on-site ecological features to support wildlife. The plans must incorporate bat boxes, sparrow terraces and bee blocks, alongside landscaping enhancements. The council also wants privacy screening for neighbouring homes to reduce overlooking from upper floors, reflecting the site’s close-knit urban setting.
While the development introduces a taller building on New Road, measures such as acoustic treatments and carefully designed boundary treatments are intended to soften its impact. The authority’s conditions place emphasis on the quality of finishes and the management of day-to-day functions like bin storage and deliveries, which can make a significant difference on a busy through-route.
Transport, parking and sustainable travel
With only 12 parking spaces for 23 homes, the scheme leans on encouraging other ways of getting around. The travel plan will be key, backed by electric vehicle charging and one-to-one cycle storage. For residents and nearby businesses, details on site access, construction traffic and delivery timings will follow at the discharge-of-conditions stage.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application | P/2025/0760 |
| Decision date | 10 July |
| Site | Former Jewson, New Road, Brixham |
| Homes | 23 two-bedroom flats |
| Storeys | 4 and 5 |
| Parking | 12 spaces plus EV charging |
| Cycles | Storage for 23 bicycles |
| Developer | McCarthy Contracting & Development Ltd |
Next steps and timeline
Before work can start in earnest, the developer must clear the pre-occupation and other planning conditions, including the final specification of materials and environmental measures. Under the consent, construction must begin within three years of the decision. Residents can expect further information to be published as those conditions are discharged and a build programme is confirmed.
As with any town-centre redevelopment, there may be periods of construction activity on and around New Road. The conditions aim to manage amenity impacts and protect neighbours, while the biodiversity and landscaping requirements are designed to leave a greener, better-screened site once complete.
This is a notable change of use for a long-standing commercial plot, responding to demand for homes by reusing a brownfield location rather than extending into greenfield land. The detail now moves to delivery: keeping an eye on materials, management and access so the finished building works for future residents and those already living close by.
