No BODY foresaw plans for former asylum's mortuary to become a living space
Plans to bring a old mortuary back to life as a family home have been turned down. The dead of Digby Hospital, once Exeter's asylum, can rest easy. Exeter City Council won't allow a change the use into a residence.
The mortuary opened in 1886 and closed just over a century later, in 1987 and the site was divided for new-build houses, a retail park and a supermarket. The main buildings did get turned into residential accommodation.
Plans had been outlined to change the east of the the site at Clyst Heath, but firstly were turned down by the council’s planning committee and then by a planning inspector.
The inspectors report said that external changes to the building and domestic re-use would have an adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the area.
They concluded: “The proposed development would result in a claustrophobic and cramped living space and would fail to provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers.
“The modest public benefits attributable to the proposal would not outweigh the considerable importance and weight to be given to the harm of the heritage asset.”
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