Panel has met regularly since mid July. The meetings are now weekly Key issues 2 August – housing - recommendation voted through (opposed by myself, Ray Bloxham and Steve Wragg) that 15,000 houses (minimum) would be the right number for the district 2 August – villages with built-up area boundaries should grow by five per cent (minimum) over the next 20 years. 30 August – employment land – two vastly different reports presented to the panel – a lot more industrial land needed. And hardly any more industrial land needed. The report stated that a lot more [...]
I told councillors and residents at an Ottery St Mary Town Council meeting last Monday (5 September) that the committee had found that I had not broken the Code of Conduct and was entitled to continue to debate and vote on planning applications in the ward. The councillor concerned appeared to argue that I should not take part in debates or vote on large-scale planning applications in the countryside. EDDC Standards Committee also acknowledged that I had followed the advice given to me by EDDC’s Monitoring Officer. I do think it is a great shame that this complaint was submitted and that [...]
Councillors said they thought the parkland setting was inappropriate for such development, they were concerned over water run-off issues and they had doubts over the scheme’s finances. I told the meeting I was very concerned about the economics and deliverability of the scheme, which was particularly relevant as the land joined up with the field that Blue Cedar Homes is interested in developing (now subject to an appeal). There is potential for dozens of houses on the parkland belonging Westhayes. I also expressed concerns about a Grade A oak tree, which would have the access road[...]
The draft National Planning Policy Framework, which has been widely denounced as a developer’s charter, has prompted an increasingly bitter row between environmental groups and the Government. The RTPI has sought to bring the two groups together for a discussion on how the situation moves forward. The RTPI’s top ten planning myths are listed below and put some of the questionable claims from both Greg Clark MP (Minister for Decentralisation) and the Housebuilder’s Federation into perspective: The Top Five ‘Planning Myths’: 1. The default response to a [...]
Both Blue Cedar Homes and Devonshire Homes, whose applications to build 50 houses at West Hill and 56 houses at Tipton St John respectively, were refused by EDDC earlier this year, have lodged appeals with the Planning Inspectorate. The appeals will take the form of public inquiry, involving legal representation. They are expected to last around three days each. The Blue Cedar Homes appeal will be held in the Committee Room, Knowle, Sidmouth starting at 10am, on Tuesday 18 October. Devonshire Homes will hold their appeal, starting on 6 December at the same place. Members of[...]
Schedule of Future LDF Panel Sessions (Schedule Updated/Reviewed – 1 Sept 2011) (Please note – Date/subjects are subject to possible changes) 6 September 2011 (PM) Sidmouth. Seaton. Ottery St Mary. Honiton. Exmouth. Budleigh Salterton. Axminster. 13 September 2011 - Environment Day (PM) Overview and Introduction Coastal Erosion Undeveloped Coast Green Infrastructure Habitat Regulations and Biodiversity Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Landscape Issues 20 September 2011 (AM) Affordable Housing Neighborhood Planning Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental [...]
The application is outside West Hill’s development boundary and includes 10 affordable properties and five large market value houses on land belonging to Westhayes. Ottery St Mary Town Council considers the application on Wednesday 7 September, at their planning meeting starting at 7.30pm. The meeting will be held at West Hill’s Narthex (next door to the church). Members of the public are welcome to make comments for up to three minutes each. To comment online, visit the ‘planning’ section of EDDC’s website and type in the planning code [...]