As reported in the Sidmouth Herald (18 November 2016), Sidmouth Town Council (STC) Planning Committee have again slammed Pegasus Life’s plans for Knowle.

Minutes of the STC Planning Committee meeting can be viewed on the STC website. As they do not record speeches from the public, these will be posted here, for your information. One was from District Councillor Marianne Rixson  (East Devon Alliance), whose objections were based on the following  planning considerations:

1.Strategy 4 – Balanced Communities

The District Public Health Summary 2015 -16 (Devon County Council) for East Devon reveals that Sidmouth has a far higher over 85 population than the rest of the country, let alone Devon.

Assisted living accommodation on this site will do nothing to redress the existing imbalance.

https://devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk/jsna/himp/

2.Strategy 36 – Accessible and Adaptable Homes and Care/Extra care homes

The figure quoted in the local plan for Sidmouth is 50 care/extra care home spaces up to 2031 and Green Close will provide 36 sheltered apartments. The Knowle will add another 113 apartments, which will bring the total to 3 x the numbers in the Local Plan in just one year.

Where are the Affordable Homes for local families which are needed to redress the balance in the existing housing mix?
3. Strategy EN22 Flood Mitigation

I believe Pegasus Life are trying to avoid the responsibility of installing adequate flood mitigation tanks to cope with flooding on the site. More stringent guidelines came into effect this year from The Environment Agency and these guidelines should be enforced for all developments after March 2016. Previously an uplift of 20% was advised in terms of surface water following heavy rainfall. This has been changed in the south west to 40%, so Pegasus should be required to provide double the flood attenuation tank storage. These tanks should also meet the design approved by South West Water.