Care village sees Abbey return to its core values
FOR centuries, the monks at Buckfast Abbey cared for the sick and the vulnerable. Now, the Benedictine community is poised to go back to this tradition after plans for an innovative care village were unanimously approved by the planning committee of Dartmoor National Park Authority.
The scheme has been designed for the former Axminister Carpets spinning mill site adjoining the Abbey, which has been largely vacant since the factory closed its doors in 2013.
The eco-friendly complex would cater for people of all ages with a care need. Around 124 supported apartments would be created, many overlooking the River Dart, with a 60-bed nursing home and a 32-bed specialist dementia unit.
There would be a sensory garden, a restaurant and bar, hairdresser, craft workshops and cinema. The ambitious plans also include swimming and hydrotherapy pools which would be open to the public, plus a new community hall.
Run by a dedi
cated health team, the aim for the complex to become a beacon of care – with domiciliary services on offer to Buckfastleigh and neighbouring Dartmoor communities.
The impetus for the village came from the monks, concerned about both the lack of care provision in the area and the jobs lost when the spinning mill closed. Under the proposals, 170 full-time posts would be created. The scheme is similar in style to two villages currently run by the St Monica’s Trust in the Bristol area, visited by some of the Buckfast monks during the lengthy planning process.
Environmental concerns, including those relating to a protected colony of horseshoe bats, have been addressed. is
A watching brief would also be kept on any archaeological finds on the site, which formed the outer court of the Medieval monastery before it became industrial.
Buckfast Abbey attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world in normal years. But although it is known for its tranquil atmosphere, the Abbey is a constant hive of activity. From the complete renovation of the church for the 2018 Millennium including the installation of an Italian Ruffatti organ and the recent addition of recording facilities, to the opening of a hotel and construction of state-ofthe-art conference facilities due for completion early next year, there is always work in progress on this ancient site.
The
impetus for this is driven by the quiet yet dynamic, monastic community, who live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, which set out in the Sixth Century his vision of monastic life, of which welcoming strangers and looking after the sick forms an integral part.
The plans were presented to the DNPA’s planning committee by Buckfast Abbey’s finance manager Jonathan Deacon, who said: “It is important to stress that this will not be a retirement village – the project aims to provide accommodation and support to people of all ages. This may include someone in their 20s for example, who has a degenerative disease but wants to continue to live a normal life for as long as possible with appropriate help. We aim to create a rich and stimulating environment.”
Widely praised by DNPA planning members as ‘iconic’, ‘innovative’ and ‘desperately needed’, the Abbey said the project will revolutionise the delivery of care in this part of Devon for many years to come.