The decision to be taken by the Council’s Development Management Committee (DMC) this week, carries a heavy responsibility.

The DMC can’t fail to be embarrassed by their own Council’s latest defiance of the Information Commissioner’s ruling that unless certain Knowle documents are released, it is impossible for the public to see whether  relocation is justified. A tricky position for the DMC, as much of the relocation project hangs on this planning application being approved.

A more direct problem is that this PegasusLife planning application appears to involve considerable departure from East Devon’s own Local Plan. For examples, see http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/knowle-relocation-project-setting-of.html

Which begs the question, “What is the point of a Local Plan?”  and how seriously should it be taken by the Council responsible for drawing it up?

Sidmouth Town Council Planning Committee (16th November), heard Michael Temple make the following speech. The issues raised will be amongst many to be considered next Tuesday (6th December) by the Development Management Committee (DMC).

‘The District Council’s Chief Planning Officer recommended that PegasusLife set Building E back to the existing office footprint. In response PegasusLife have moved it a few metres north of the Listed Summerhouse but on a higher level of lawn where the Chief Planning Officer has told me ground levels would be raised.

Diagrams* sent to you by Graham Cooper reveal the visual impact of this on the listed building and for those who use the park: currently the angle of vision to the old hotel building from the ground level of the Folly is 20 degrees – the distance between being over 30 metres. The angle of vision to the new siting of Building E would be 50 degrees. As measured by the Chief Planning Officer Building E would be 20.1 metres (66 feet) above the ground level of the Folly. This will destroy the setting of the listed building and impact seriously on the public park.

STC has opposed any building on the park lawns, which are seen as a key feature of this unique woodland park. The developer’s claim that Buildings E and D (the latter to be sited on the very edge of the lower lawn) will “tastefully ornament” the listed building is preposterous and the vegetation now encroaching on that public asset is the result of Council neglect.

PegasusLife’s intention to remove all the trees and bushes on the western side of the lawn terraces will also expose Building E – as well as the adjacent Building F which will be 7 metres higher that the current office building. These will dominate the skyline from the western side of Sidmouth. I am sure Sidmouth Councillors are aware of the gigantic scale and impact of this development.’

• Diagrams can be viewed on the eddc website in the COMMENT by  Graham Cooper, dated  11 November 2016, under Knowle planning application reference 16/08072/FUL