East Devon District Council has finally approved a planning application which would see the demolition of one of Exmouth Road’s oldest properties and its replacement by five detached houses. The approval has been given in spite of objections made by local residents and criticism of the plans by both Budleigh Salterton Town Council and the Otter Valley Association.Plans for the demolition of Clyst Hayes House and development of its extensive site have been the subject of five separate applications to EDDC over the last few years. It is clear that while local residents and Budleigh Town Council had concerns about what they considered to be the unsuitable location of the development, the issue of affordable housing was the over-riding factor in the District Council’s decision.
The Town Council believes that over-development of the site and the proposed loss of trees would have a detrimental affect on the surrounding area, and has concerns that the development will have a serious impact on the adjoining County Wildlife Site. Town councillors are also concerned about the dangerous exit for five extra households onto a busy road and believe that the additional sewerage and surface water will cause problems to the existing drainage system.
Budleigh’s Town Council has also criticised the proposed demolition and development of Clyst Hayes House as contrary to guidance laid out in the Budleigh Salterton Design Statement, a document adopted by EDDC as interim Supplementary Planning Guidance to the emerging East Devon Local Plan in October 2004. The property, which the District Council admits is “an Edwardian house of attractive proportions” would appear to be a typical example quoted in the Design Statement of large detached houses saved from demolition and successfully converted to multiple occupancy. “Greater attention should be paid to the sub-division of large houses of distinctive character rather than the soft option of demolition and redevelopment of the site,” urged the document, which appears in a link on the District Council’s own website.
The Town Council believes that over-development of the site and the proposed loss of trees would have a detrimental affect on the surrounding area, and has concerns that the development will have a serious impact on the adjoining County Wildlife Site. Town councillors are also concerned about the dangerous exit for five extra households onto a busy road and believe that the additional sewerage and surface water will cause problems to the existing drainage system.
Budleigh’s Town Council has also criticised the proposed demolition and development of Clyst Hayes House as contrary to guidance laid out in the Budleigh Salterton Design Statement, a document adopted by EDDC as interim Supplementary Planning Guidance to the emerging East Devon Local Plan in October 2004. The property, which the District Council admits is “an Edwardian house of attractive proportions” would appear to be a typical example quoted in the Design Statement of large detached houses saved from demolition and successfully converted to multiple occupancy. “Greater attention should be paid to the sub-division of large houses of distinctive character rather than the soft option of demolition and redevelopment of the site,” urged the document, which appears in a link on the District Council’s own website.
The District Council had raised concerns at the absence of affordable housing provision in previous applications, but following applicant Richard Gosling’s claim that part of the site has been sold has now conceded that this is no longer a valid issue. District Councillors commented that it is “extremely disappointing” to learn that the site area has been reduced in area in order to avoid the requirements of the Government’s Affordable Housing policy. “As it stands there is now no requirement to adhere to this policy, and legal advice which has been sought suggests that there are no grounds for the refusal of planning permission on this basis.”
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