STUNNING

It’s exciting times for the village of Woolacombe on Devon’s North coast, as a major development comes to fruition. This is Byron, a collection of 57 luxury architect-designed apartments, ranging from one to four bedrooms, set in landscaped grounds and with stunning views of the beach.

“A lot of people have got a fix on Woolacombe - it draws them through the generations,” says developer Sheila Sawyer of Blast Properties. “They love to come down here to enjoy the countryside, cycling, surfing, keeping fit, spending time with family. Holidays and international travel are becoming more expensive: here, all you need to do is give your child a wetsuit and a surfboard.”

Certainly Woolacombe is a remarkable place: this North Devon beauty spot regularly wins accolades for its three miles of sandy beach, named by one magazine as the fourth in all Europe and the 13th in the world – beating contenders in Turkey, Dubai and the Maldives.

Byron is an imaginative re-development of the site previously occupied by the Narracott Grand Hotel, designed in the 1960s by local architect Reginald Gale. In its heyday, the Narracott Grand was a groovy hotel with a heated pool overlooked

Gillian Molesworth discovers a new collection of 57 luxury architect-designed apartments on Devon’s North coast

by a casino bar, with a ballroom hosting “beat dancing” and a cabaret bar. By the early 2000s, however, it was well past its prime.

“We were approached by the owner, and five entrepreneurs agreed to invest in its re-development,” says Sheila; the building partner would be Bristol-based CTS Construction. Alas, disaster struck in the form of the 2008 financial crisis, and the project had to be put on hold.

“It was a difficult time, but we were committed,” says Sheila. “It took a long time for us to get funding. There was a lot of reservation by the banks to put money into a rural seaside building.

“We were heartened that we would be significantly enhancing the village and consolidating a rural community. We also knew we had the right spot: we wanted to welcome this three-mile view of the beach, with a facility that made the most of the magnificent ocean.

“The planning officer was very supportive, as was the parish council, and the community has embraced the project with open arms. With support from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency [now Homes England], we were finally able to proceed.”

Estimated at around £25 million, Byron represents one of the biggest investments to any North Devon coastal community in history, and work began in 2016.

The vision, says Sheila, is for “a contemporary spin to bring Woolacombe into 2018, but a design that complemented the Edwardian and Victorian architecture in the area”.

Just as the Edwardians and Victorians put their own stamp on holiday-making in the Westcountry, Byron does the same.

“Although we’re creating 57 new apartments, we also have facilities for them,” says Sheila. “There’s a leisure centre and Brundles Bar and Restaurant. The restaurateurs are determined to make it a year-round destination.”

Let’s take a look at Byron’s handsome shared facilities. There’s a child-friendly swimming pool with a sauna, and a spa offering a range of relaxation and beauty treatments. A rainy day games room will keep the kids occupied. The all-day restaurant serves a range of tasty dishes small and large; there’s a special events menu such as a weekly barbeque in the main courtyard, and cookery classes and demonstrations off-season.

There are surf showers for residents to wash away the salt, and on-site secure storage ideal for surfboards or bicycles.

The site will be staffed 14 hours a day, so there’s a concierge to help you with queries, luggage, etc, and you can have your newspaper of choice (naturally the Western Morning News) waiting for you at the front desk.

Ranging from one to four bedrooms, each apartment has a terrace, balcony or patio to make the most of the views.

Inside, these fully fitted apartments are sleek and contemporary. The fully fitted kitchens have AEG integrated appliances, including a stainless steel oven, touch control ceramic hob, and A-rated appliances including fridge/freezer and dishwasher.

The bathrooms have Roca tiles and Duravit bathroom suites, with chrome