Last week a flyer was delivered with the Midweek Herald, with details of proposals for between 160 and 200 dwellings, plus a possible care home. The flyer claims that ‘generous amounts of open space’ would be provided, as well as the retention of ‘important trees and hedgerows.’ The applicants are Prockter Lane LLP, represented by Simon Steele-Perkins and based at Greendale[...]
EDDC’s Planning Service is considering the implications of a developer winning a planning appeal for 50 homes on a site in Station Road, Feniton. A Government Inspector upheld an appeal by Wainhomes (South West) against the Council’s refusal of planning permission. The 50 homes near Louvigny Close can now be built, but there are 12 conditions attached to the permission, and 40% of the new [...]
EDDC’s scrutiny committee last night was alive with accusations over conflicts of interest, influence over planning policy, and there were questions raised about the number of successful planning applications by business forum members, that were contrary to the adopted local plan. Some councillors expressed concern over what members of the public had to say about the business forum, but [...]
Also covered were the conflicts of interest in relation to a lobby group, which is also part of the council. I was interviewed by Matt Woodley just after 7am. Cllr Graham Brown was also on live at around 8.10 and EDDC Leader, Paul Diviani gave an interview last night to journalist, Sophie Pierce, who attended the scrutiny meeting. Also on the programme were interviews with Tony Green,[...]
The application, which was originally submitted in 2010 was rejected, but was resubmitted in February this year, attracting dozens of objections once again. Many sets of new plans were put forward by the applicant, prompting complaints from residents who argued that there had been so many changes that it constituted a new application. Among the key objectors were Natural England, the Royal Society[...]
The planning inspector, who heard the appeal in August and published his verdict yesterday, has dismissed a number of important material planning considerations and instead smashed to pieces, a key plank of East Devon District Council’s planning policy. The appeal was against EDDC’s refusal of 50 dwellings on a greenfield site on high quality agricultural land. The application was [...]
Many designated beauty spots are at risk from the Government’s plans to make it easier for “sustainable development” to take place in the countryside, it has been claimed. Under the law, developers have a “duty of regard” for locations listed as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and are only supposed to build on such land in exceptional circumstances. But under new planning rules, [...]
Introduction Cllr Troman’s referral of the East Devon Business Forum (EDBF) to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on September 27 2012 is very timely. Many informed residents of East Devon are concerned that the District Council is unduly influenced by the EDBF especially in the preparation of the controversial Local Plan which proposes massive development in the district including more than [...]
An anonymous local authority planner sends an open letter to communities secretary Eric Pickles. Dear right honourable Eric Pickles MP I am writing in response to the planning policy changes you proposed last week. I was educated in planning during the boom years, courtesy of a bursary from your department’s predecessor at a time when there were big shortages in the numbers of planners. As such,[...]
A second council has voiced its objections to the government’s proposal to allow homeowners to build larger extensions without the need for planning permission, branding the plan a ‘recipe for disaster’. The Liberal Democrat-run London Borough of Sutton has joined Tory London council Richmond in speaking out against the plans to relax permitted development rights for three years.[...]
A flagship Tory council is opposing the coalition’s plan to allow householders to build larger extensions without the need for planning permission, warning that the measure would be ‘permanently damaging to our built environment’. Earlier this month, the government unveiled plans to relax for three years permitted development rights for extensions to homes and business premises [...]
Cllr Graham Brown (Con) and East Devon District Council’s economic development officer, Nigel Harrison, will appear together at the meeting, following Cllr Graham Troman’s (Con) call for the forum to be debated by EDDC’s overview and scrutiny committee. Cllr Troman asked chairman of the scrutiny committee, Cllr Stuart Hughes for East Devon Business Forum to be listed on the [...]
The trunk road is the shortest route for those travelling from London and the South East, to Devon and Cornwall. More than 90% of commuters and businesses in the South West back an upgrade of the A303, a council survey has found. Motorists were asked about the benefits to dualling sections of the A303, which often has delays at certain points. The survey found 90% of businesses in the South West [...]
EDDC Environmental Health Officers have been advised this week that some children playing in the River Otter at Budleigh Salterton have become ill with severe vomiting. Tests have shown that they were infected with Norovirus, which is a highly infectious form of gastroenteritis. Signs advising the public not to bathe or paddle in the river have today (Friday) been put up near the mouth of [...]