Save Our Sidmouth

Category Archives: East Devon Issues


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Visual impact of developer’s plans for Knowle, raises concerns

PegasusLife have made their Planning Application for the Knowle. The reference, to be quoted in any correspondence, is 16/0872/MFUL. The return date for comments and objections at the moment is 15th June.

Save Our Sidmouth (SOS) has numerous comments on the proposal, which will be submitted to East Devon District Council (EDDC) in the near future, and published on this website, in advance of the due date, to enable you to comment if you so wish.

Foremost amongst SOS objections will be
— the excessive number of dwellings planned, (Currently 115, in contrast to 50 allocated in the Local Plan)
— insufficient parking for the residents, which will mean they are likely to use the remaining public car park
— building on the existing terraces
— use of inappropriate materials and finishes
— and, very importantly, the height and visual intrusiveness of the buildings, and the massing.
The buildings are high (e.g. building F is nearly 7m higher than the existing roof line) and will have a far greater visual impact than the present ones.

Present view of Knowle buildings as seen from across the Bickwell Valley:

Knowle over Bickwell

An approximation with heights verified, of the west face of the Knowle Plateau using Pegasus’s drawings – as not supplied in their Townscape and Visual Impact Report. The rear buildings have been omitted here, in order to show a section of the existing Knowle building- for scale:

Pegasus West Plateau

 

 

 


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Planning applications imminent, for Knowle, and for Sidford employment site.

SOS Chair, Richard Thurlow has the following message for Sid Valley residents:

“We understand that Pegasus has submitted the planning application for the Knowle. This is being validated at the moment by EDDC to see whether they have conformed to all Planning requirements for submission.
As soon as we learn that the planning application is in the public domain, we will advise you of this.
We would urge all concerned residents to consider the plans and comment accordingly.

Also, we believe that Fords are on the point of submitting a planning application for construction on the Employment land at Sidford, despite the overwhelming objections by the public. We will advise when the planning application is available for comment.”


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As schedule for relocation slips, Cabinet asked “Is this project still ‘cost neutral’? “

The three month delay in starting work on the proposed new offices in Honiton, announced by Head of Relocation, Richard Cohen, adds to concerns about the financial uncertainties of the project.

These were the QUESTIONS TO CABINET 6TH APRIL 2016, by Jeremy Woodward, They confirm that the move from Knowle could prove a burden for the whole District. It is not just a matter for Sidmouth.

‘Referring to the latest Relocation Report, I would be grateful if Members could consider the following questions:

At the meeting of the full Council on 25th March last year, specific figures were given:

Is it still anticipated that the full cost for relocation will be £10m?

Do the conditions for the 20-year loan repayment still stand?

Will the refurbishment needed at Exmouth Town Hall cost the council around £1m and around £7m to build the offices at Honiton?

Has the Council undersold the Knowle site?

In other words:

Is this project still ‘cost neutral’?

Is this value for money as far as the taxpayers of East Devon are concerned?

And:

Why haven’t we come out of this deal much better off rather than desperately trying to finance a vanity project?’