Salcombe Council Battles to Preserve Gifted Retirement Home

As of September 9th, 2025, Salcombe Town Council is engaged in a battle to prevent Age UK from selling a historic retirement home that was gifted to the town decades ago. The property, known as Woodcot on Cliff Road, was transferred to Age UK in 1977, but the council claims it is subject to a covenant that requires it to remain a home for the elderly.

However, Age UK maintains that when they acquired the property, there were no restrictions that would "stop it being sold" or mandate it remain a residence for older adults. The charity says the property is no longer cost-effective to maintain, as it currently rents out apartments to six fully independent tenants.

Salcombe's mayor, Jasper Evans, has described the potential sale as "devastating," arguing the property was effectively "gifted to the town" for use as a retirement home. Residents who have lived at Woodcot for 20 years, such as Simon Henn and Ruth Kent, are deeply distressed at the prospect of having to relocate, as they consider the property their true home.

Campaigners like Kathy Koo, who knew the original owner Elizabeth Jennings, believe she would have never left the property to charity if she thought it would eventually be sold off. Age UK has acknowledged the existence of "restrictive covenants" and says it is seeking legal advice, though it maintains the covenants primarily benefit neighboring properties rather than the wider community.