DETAILS on the much-mooted refurbishment of Holsworthy’s Manor Offices has been confirmed as the plans have become the subject of a planning application.

Torridge District Council, which owns the offices that serve as the base for a number of local businesses alongside Holsworthy Town Council in addition to being the premises for Holsworthy Museum, has submitted the application which is set to be decided by a committee of its councillors.

As part of a multi-million pound investment in the town, which includes funding to enable the infrastructure for the Holsworthy agri-business centre next to the market, money has been made available to refurbish the offices at the centre of the town.

The section occupied by the museum is not part of the proposals.

In documents submitted as part of the proposals, Emiliani Architects, the planning agent appointed by Torridge District Council said: “Proposed items of work include: refurbishment/replacement of windows and external doors; internal refurbishment and alterations, including new reception, external redecoration, intercom system for improved access and security, roof repairs/replacement including to fascias/bargeboards and rainwater goods, safety improvements to guarding around internal staircase, installation of photovoltaic panels with inverter and batteries and a fibre data upgrade”

The internal works to the building will include a new reception for the use of Holsworthy Town Council, to include provision of an office space, meeting room and a confidential interview room and including a glazed counter feature that is designed for accessible use.

In other areas of the building, there will be a refurbishment of the kitchenette and accessible toilet to improve functionality and the appeal of the building to tenants and visitors.

On the first floor, the rooms known as room 20 and room 21 will be merged by removing an existing lightweight partition to provide a larger space that will be suited to the needs of the tenant.

The final section of the internal works will see the creation of a co-working area achieved by combining rooms 18A and 25 by removing the lightweight partition and clerestory windows, to be replaced by ‘fire-rated partitions.’

As well as the internal works, there will be a range of other works related to the building, which will include the installation of solar panels in order to achieve the desired energy improvements and decarbonisation.

The proposals will see solar panels installed on ‘all feasible south-facing and west-facing roof pitches’ which it intends to produce enough power to offset part of the building’s energy consumption, which is presently heated by storage heaters.

There will be no solar panels on the northern edge of the roof slopes in order to mitigate their visual impact.

Despite the investment, it is not clear if the lift within the building, which has been out of action for a long period of time will be recommissioned.

The planning documents state it will be ‘considered as part of the works but budget constraints and running costs might make it unfeasible’.

The full plans can be viewed on the Torridge District Council website under reference 1/0421/2026/LA.