PLANS for Okehampton's new community hospital received overwhelming support from members of West Devon District Council's planning committee last week.
Cllr John Darch described the plan by Nigel Grainge Associates as 'very impressive' and one of which the town should be proud.
The new building, which was granted outline planning permission last year, will replace Okehampton District Hospital and the Castle Hospital and provide 34 beds for medical care and maternity.
It is a single-storey structure with a two-storey element where ground levels drop. Patient and clinical care will be provided all on one level.
Facilities at the hospital will include a casualty unit with major and minor treatment rooms and an outpatients department and clinics.
Objections were received from six people living close to the site concerned about the loss of privacy, disturbance and the proximity of the hospital to the boundary.
Architect Nigel Grainge said a great deal of effort had gone into creating a building that did not dwarf the houses and impinge on residents' privacy.
The committee was told the objection regarding proximity appeared to be a result of a misunderstanding because the building was set at a lower level than their gardens and only the roof would be visible, leaving views for the residential dwellings over the roof.
Mr Grainge said the hospital would be ventilated naturally so noise would be kept to a minimum and most trees on site had been retained.
Cllr Joan Pauley said the new hospital was much-needed and she had been waiting for 30 years to see plans come to fruition.
Okehampton new hospital is expected to be opened in November 2002. A local fundraising appeal of £100,000 to provide new equipment was launched in December.