Brampton House opens as Torbay Council launches first ‘Hotels to Homes’ social rent apartments

Some of the first new council housing delivered directly by Torbay Council in a generation is now ready for local people to move into ahead of Christmas.

The 14 modern, energy-efficient one- and two-bedroom apartments have been created through the redevelopment of the former Brampton Court Hotel, now renamed Brampton House.

The project was led by Bramcourt Ltd, with architectural design by Co Create Architects and construction carried out by Armada Property (UK). Work took less than nine months from securing planning permission, with a workforce of up to 50 people, mostly from Torbay and South Devon. Armada also moved its headquarters from Teignmouth to Torquay during the project.

The new apartments will be let at social rents to local households, with the first tenants expected to move in before Christmas. Environmentally friendly improvements include high-quality insulation, solar panels and energy-efficient boilers. Each apartment has been given an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of B, indicating a very good level of energy efficiency and lower energy bills for residents.

The development is the first completed under the Council’s ‘Hotels to Homes’ programme, which repurposes small, prominent and under-used brownfield sites in Torbay, such as former hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts. The scheme is believed to be the first in England to specifically convert former hotel accommodation into social housing.

Cllr Alan Tyerman, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance, said: “It is fantastic to see the scheme complete. This is the result of months and months of hard work between the team at Armada and our in-house development team, and I would like to offer my thanks to all those who have worked so hard to preserve this building and bring it back to life as social housing.

“What has been achieved is excellent and proves that we can deliver the homes we need and protect our precious green spaces. I am very much looking forward to welcoming our first residents into their new homes. It is a wonderful Christmas present for them, and a significant milestone as we deliver on our ambition to provide more affordable homes in Torbay.”

The Brampton House project was supported by grant funding from the UK Government and Homes England. The Council has already acquired the second site for the programme at the former Seabury Hotel in Torquay, with construction expected to start in mid-2026. Further sites are being identified for future years.

The Council says the programme will increase the number of properties it owns, helping to provide more stable, affordable homes for local people while supporting regeneration in Torbay.

New homes are being allocated through Devon Home Choice to households with a local connection, with priority given to those working permanently in Torquay, Paignton or Brixham.