Confirmation that the Sidford Fields employment site is to be kept in the Local Plan, brought strong reaction,not just from local Ward members, at this morning’s Development Management Committee (DMC) meeting at Knowle. Councillor Mike Allen (Con, Honiton) was particularly incensed. Referring to EDDC’s policy of reducing outcommuting, he said that the evidence that “at least half of the workforce comes into Sidmouth to work”, “confounds” the Inspector’s comments about Sidford Fields. In Cllr Allen’s view, the conclusions were “neither democratic nor sound”. Cllr David Barratt (Ind, Sidmouth Rural) agreed, it was “absolutely undemocratic “, emphasising that “this council was against it”. “That site is not suitable from a planning point of view”, he added. Cllr Marianne Rixson (Ind, Sidmouth/ Sidford) informed by her detailed research into traffic and flooding, said the decision on Sidford Fields was “Absolutely appalling for Sidmouth”, in every aspect.
Category Archives: Sidford Fields – AONB or business park?
‘Sidford Fields’ no longer….employment land allocation remains in Local Plan.
Please note that the adoption of the Local Plan will be considered at Full Council, on Thursday 28th January 2016. Public can attend.
Items b), h) and i) (highlighted, for your information) are of special interest to SOS, in this copy of Matthew Dickins’ letter sent out today:
‘Dear Sir or Madam
East Devon Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule – Receipt of the Inspector’s Reports
I am pleased to advise of the receipt of the Inspectors reports into Examination of both the new East Devon Local Plan and the East Devon Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. These reports may be viewed at the Council Offices in Sidmouth, at East Devon libraries and online at
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/emerging-plans-and-policies/the-new-local-plan/local-plan-adoption
or follow hyperlink to Local Plan adoption – East Devon.
The Inspector concludes that the Local Plan is sound subject to ‘main modifications’, details of which can be viewed with copies of the report. Key matters highlighted in the Inspector’s report, that relates to the plan as submitted for examination and includes main modifications, include that:
a) the plan should cover the 2013 to 2031 period;
b) it is appropriate for the plan to provide for 17,100 new homes over this time period – this equates to 950 per year;
c) the strategy for distribution of development, with a focus on the West End, is appropriate;
d) the Council can show a five year housing land supply;
e) the plan makes appropriate provision for affordable housing;
f) the plan makes appropriate provision for jobs growth (noting links between job growth and housing provision);
g) the plan provides for protection of the natural environment and highlights that habitat mitigation is critical in respect of accommodating housing growth;
h) the Sidford employment land allocation should remain in the plan;
i) residential development at the Council offices site (at the Knowle) is appropriate as is the allocation boundary;
j) the plan should provide for gypsies and travellers at Cranbrook;
k) Chardstock and Dunkeswell should not feature in Strategy 27 of the plan; they should not be identified as villages to have a Built-up Area Boundary;
l) Land should not be safeguarded for a rail head at the Intermodal Interchange site.
On the Community Infrastructure Levy the Inspector approved the Draft Charging Schedule subject to the following modifications:
a) the retail CIL rate for Cranbrook should be reduced to £0 per square metre
b) the Cranbrook expansion areas charging zone map should be modified to include the New Community Partner’s proposed southern expansion area
Adoption of the Local Plan is due to be considered at a meeting of the Full Council on 28th January 2016. A separate report considering adoption of the CIL Charging Schedule will be considered in due course.
If you have any queries on the new Local Plan or the Community Infrastructure Levy please call the Planning Policy team on 01395 571533 or email localplan@eastdevon.gov.uk. If you no longer wish to receive communications from us or your details have changed pleases do advise us and we will update our database.
Yours faithfully
Matthew Dickins
Planning Policy Manager
East Devon District Council’
Will Sidmouth, and East Devon, remain ‘an outstanding place’ , with EDDC’s Local Plan?
The statement below appeared today on the EDDC website. More announcements are expected after tomorrow’s verbal update (at DMC,Knowle,starting 10.a.m), with details of a Sidford business park and of the allocation of housing for Sidmouth.
’18 January 2016
Key milestone for East Devon’s Local Plan
Independent Planning Inspector confirms the plan is ‘sound’ subject to modifications
A key milestone has been reached with East Devon’s Local Plan following official confirmation from the independent Planning Inspector that the plan, subject to a number of modifications, is now ‘sound’.
This means that East Devon District Council can now move forward to formally adopt the Local Plan and the additional Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule. A meeting to adopt the plan is expected to take place at the end of January.
The Local Plan documents are the culmination of years of work as the Council has assessed many possible development sites and addressed thousands of consultation responses with communities and individuals across the district.
The document was comprehensively scrutinised by Planning Inspector Anthony Thickett who has made some modifications to the final plan which are essentially those that the Council consulted on last October and November with some amendments to these that he felt were necessary.
The Inspector’s main findings are:
• The target of 17,100 new homes between 2013 and 2031 is an appropriate housing need for the district and will meet the needs identified in the Council’s studies.
• The district will have a five- year housing land supply upon adoption of the plan and indeed already has such a supply. This means that settlement boundaries can be more rigorously defended from developers wishing to develop land that sits outside of the boundaries included in the plan.
• The identified need for 37 gypsy and traveller pitches is based on robust and reliable evidence.
• The proposed site allocations for homes and employment are appropriate including land at Winslade Park, Clyst St Mary and the allocation of East Devon District Council’s offices at the Knowle, Sidmouth.
The Inspector has also resolved to include the Sidford employment site that East Devon councillors asked to be removed from the Local Plan at a Council meeting in March 2015.
Explaining his decision in his report, he says: “It has been shown that there is neither a suitable site within Sidmouth nor a better one outside the town. I consider that any environmental impacts can be satisfactorily mitigated…..I consider the proposed allocation to be sound and I do not recommend its deletion.”
In relation to the identified need for 37 gypsy and traveller pitches, Mr Thickett says he understands concerns that up to 30 of these pitches are provided at Cranbrook. Mr Thickett adds: “There is nothing in the modified policy to require all 30 pitches to be in the same place and I have seen nor read anything to suggest that sites could not be developed in a way that would integrate satisfactorily with other development planned for Cranbrook.” The Council will continue to look at all options for the delivery of the gypsy and traveller sites and these will be allocated through a separate document to be consulted on later this year.
Cllr Paul Diviani, Leader of East Devon District Council, said he was pleased to see the Local Plan now moving forward.
He said: “The plan is a vital ‘blueprint’ for future growth and development in East Devon up to 2031, and will be used to decide planning applications, helping guide investment in infrastructure and give communities more certainty about how their part of the district will grow and develop during this period.
“I hope that our residents feel reassured that the local plan, when adopted, will give us full control over what development is permitted in the district and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to contribute to the many consultations that were held. They have helped to shape the future of the district.
“The plan has taken time to develop and we have had some demanding policy challenges along the way. However, it is crucial that we have the right plan in place to ensure that our outstanding environment is conserved and enhanced, and that new development can provide homes that people need, places for them to work and social and community facilities to support them in leading healthy, active and fulfilling lives.”
Mark Williams, East Devon District Council’s Chief Executive, said: “It is a pleasure to read a rational, proportionate and common sense assessment of the planning issues that the East Devon Local Plan addresses. We are grateful to Mr Thickett for the excellent work he has undertaken and now look forward to finally adopting the Local Plan.”
The Local Plan Inspector’s report is available on East Devon District Council’s website at http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/emerging-plans-and-policies/the-new-local-plan/local-plan-adoption/
The Inspector’s report into the Community Infrastructure Levy is available to read at http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levy-cil/cil-adoption/’
Save Our Sidmouth 