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Affordable and Social Housing, Local Plan

Fantasy v. reality and localism v. centralism in housing supply

Report calls for local authorities to be cut out of housing projects

With just 117,720 homes built last year, a new report from planning consultancy Quod [and coincidentally appointed by Brandon Lewis below, to speed up planning permissions] and lawyers Bond Dickinson suggests that the housing shortage has become so severe that building projects should be considered by central government rather than by local authorities. It argues that housebuilding should be brought into the nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP) regime, thus allowing developers to apply directly to the government for planning permission, bypassing local authority planning regulations.

“Local housing plans are being held up either because it’s a difficult decision for local authorities to take, or two or three local authorities can’t agree between themselves, or the local inspectorate is pushing back. So it’s taking a long time for those local plans to come through, and there’s no guarantee that will change. There are no perfect solutions to delivering large-scale housing development, but the NSIP regime looks to be an attractive option, and we urge the government to consult on its usage as a matter of urgency,”

Kevin Gibbs a partner at Bond Dickinson explains.
The Times, Page: 45

and

“Lewis hopes for 1m new homes by end of Parliament

Brandon Lewis, the housing minister, has said in a BBC documentary that he hopes to see 1m new homes built by the end of this Parliament. Gavin Smart, deputy chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “Matching the ambition with successful delivery would be a great achievement.”

However, Professor Tony Crook, of the University of Sheffield, commented: “It would certainly be a significant target, but a lot of people would argue it’s not enough.” He added that private sector builders would only be able to deliver 150,000 a year by themselves, and said the Government must do more to support building by other sectors if it is to meet the target.

The BBC Inside Out documentary was aired last night on BBC1 at 7.30pm and is available on BBC

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EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, PegasusLife, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Remaining Knowle parkland to be sold to Sidmouth Town Council for £1

All well and good talking about restrictive covenants but they were not much use in Exmouth when East Devon District Council bought out restrictive covenants which were owned by Clinton Devon Estates which would have held up developments.

And if some parkland is used for parking as mentioned in the article, what is to stop Pegasus using it as an overflow car park for their luxury retirement complex?

Many questions still to be answered.

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/covenant_to_protect_future_of_knowle_park_1_4238238

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Claire Wright, NHS (local)

North Devon GPs powerfully challenge the closure of community beds

Our thanks to the blog of Claire Wright for this post from North Devon GPs to the Commissioning Group which has already closed community beds in our area –

Dear Dr Diamond,

‘Safe and effective care within the budget’ consultation

We, the undersigned GPs, would like to register our grave concerns over patient safety regarding the forthcoming plans of Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) to close community beds, either in totality or part of the locality, in an unprecedented move before this coming winter as proposed in your current consultation paper.

The current consultation process for “safe and effective care within the budget” has been experienced as a hasty cost improvement process given the far-reaching safety implications of the proposed changes. Whilst we recognise the current context of austerity, we are concerned that the untried, untested closures of so many community hospital beds in this area could prove dangerous for a significant population of patients who might need to rely on community beds to bridge the gap between acute hospital care and their homes when they become severely ill this winter.

The population in North Devon is 166,093 with 1555 people living in residential care homes. There are 4 community hospitals in Holsworthy, Bideford, South Molton and Ilfracombe which has 10 community beds but is temporarily closed. The current 64 beds in 3 community hospitals are fully occupied. East of the Water near Bideford and Ilfracombe are among the most deprived areas in the country with complex health and social needs. Patients in our rural areas will have more difficulties in getting transport to North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple should all the community hospital beds be closed. Patients in Holsworthy areas will have to travel 35 miles to NDDH should Holsworthy community hospital be closed.

We have particular concerns over the safety of these proposals that are being made in the absence of concrete plans for bolstering and investing in safe staffing levels of the existing very stretched community nursing service. Vulnerable patients this winter could find themselves with inadequate community nursing, physiotherapy and other ancillary services, as well as an over-stretched primary care GP services which will be forced into taking clinical responsibility in an inadequate and under- resourced system. The current time-frame does not suggest any contingency or risk and impact assessment to account for laying down sufficient and timely investment in community services and staff to prevent this.

It must be recognised that North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) currently faces frequent bed shortages, resulting with patients at times having to be placed temporarily in the day surgery unit overnight in bed state emergencies with inadequate facilities as in a normal ward and delayed admissions. Closing community hospitals beds will further compound this situation and may also affect the safe running of NDDH itself.

NEW Devon CCG’s suggested strategic direction is for a timely process of reduction in the numbers of community beds shared over a number of community hospital sites, with money saved by reduction of community beds reinvested in community staffing. This is a very different proposal.

If staff cannot be attracted to work at the community hospitals, it is unlikely they will be recruited in a timely manner to provide sufficient community nursing cover to the local population, resulting in unsafe levels of staff to cover patients discharged from NDDH in the community, often very early in the course of their illness with multiple needs, both medical and social.

Similarly, we are not convinced by the proposal of a community bed unit based at NDDH to be established in time for the winter prior to the closure of all community hospital beds, nor the proposal that a “Frailty Consultant” will be recruited in time to provide clinical guidance and leadership to those proposed beds at NDDH reserved for community patients. NDHT has had severe difficulties and is unable despite multiple advertisements in replacing recently resigned Care of Older People Consultants. North Devon population will end up with no community hospital beds, no consultant with the appropriate skills to provide clinical skills and direction and an over-stretched community service in addition to an acute hospital with bed shortages over the winter.

It has been suggested that the closure of Torrington Community hospital was a success. The truth of the matter is that these patients were often placed in other community hospitals which are still open and evidence shows these community beds are needed.

We agree that patient safety is paramount and as such we do not support the current “safe effective care within budget” plans and their time-frame. We propose NDHT engage all stakeholders including the CCG and staff for a timely and proper consultation to find the best and safe solution for our population.

Yours sincerely

Dr Glenys Knight, Senior Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Mark Clayton, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Geoff Spencer, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Duncan Bardner, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Alison Stapley, Executive & GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Yuk Chan, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Ed Bond, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Ruth Down, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Richard Davies, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Andrew Clarke, GP Partner, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Sarah Ansell, Salaried GP, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Nicky Relph, Salaried GP, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Steffan James, ST4, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Fiona Duncan, ST3, Bideford Medical Centre
Dr Alan Howlett, Senior Partner, Black Torrington Health Centre
Dr David Hillebrandt, semi-retired Holsworthy GP, Sessional and OOH GP
Dr Birgit Hole, Sessional GP
Dr Caroline Flynn, Session GP
Dr Chris Gibb, Senior Partner, South Molton Health Centre
Dr Justin Bowyer, GP Partner, South Molton Health Centre
Dr Rebecca Geary, GP Partner, South Molton Health Centre
Dr Wayne Sturley, GP Partner, South Molton Health Centre

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Colyton, Neighbourhood Plans, Transparency

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Colyton: where a committee chair is elected before the comittee is chosen!

Queer goings-on in Colyton where the first public meeting to discuss developing a Neighbourhood Plan descender into chaos and must at times seemed like an episode of “Yes, Minister”.

According to the “View from Colyton” (see digital edition online) the first public meeting – where it was anticipated that people would be informed and a committee chosen – were told that the-committee-that-didn’t-yet-exist would be chaired by Parish Councillor Caroline Collier, who had been elected, in advance of the committee being constituted, by the parish council at an earlier meeting.

This news was met with cries of “Undemocratic” and with council Chairman Andrew Parr telling people “It’s the parish council’s committee” whereas, apparently, others in the room thought that the clue was in the name – and that the neighbourhood would be in charge – once a committee was constituted!

Mr Parr (husband of EDDC councillor Helen Parr) and Mrs Collier have been very, very long-standing members of the Parish Council.

It also transpired during the meeting that Mrs Parr, in 2011, had said that the area did not need a Neighbourhood Plan as the then (and still) emerging Local Plan would suffice. Her response when this was pointed out was “That was then and this is now”!

Many Neighbourhood Plan committees have few or no councillors on them so that the process can be seen to be fully inclusive and not responding to the wishes of one particular group and many are chaired by local people with no council background.

The need for Colyton Parish Council to own the process does not auger well for others who may have different views on development in the area, particularly when some councillors may also be Feoffeex and/or landowners and developers.

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Lobbying, Transparency

Lobbying – it still stinks

“Fewer than one in 20 lobbyists are covered by the government’s new lobbying register, according to a report warning that the public are being left in the dark about those trying to influence UK policy.

The anti-corruption NGO Transparency International says that although it identified 2,735 lobbyists who met MPs in a single three-month period, only 96 professional lobbying firms are listed on the government’s register of consultant lobbyists.

Between April and June 2014, HSBC, BT, Barclays, BAE Systems, BP, Shell, AstraZeneca and Rolls-Royce individually met government ministers between 12 and 22 times, according to the report.

“The UK’s current lobbyist register and records of lobbying meetings provide us with very little useful information with which to hold lobbyists to account,” the Accountable Influence report states. “Lobbying scandals happen in the UK at an alarming rate, and appear to keep on happening unabated.” …

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/21/lobbying-register-transparency-international-report

Our illustrious MP is a “buddy” to several large companies including Procter and Gamble …

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/jan/18/buddy-scheme-multinationals-access-ministers

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Cranbrook, DCC, Local Infrastructure and CIL, Police (local)

More on that anti-social behaviour in Cranbrook. .. it’s adults as well as children

. .. as referred to in the recent DCC report. Yet another example of why appropriate infrastructure and social support MUST be built into new communities from the start:

“Anti-Social Behaviour, Cranbrook Park
On Monday 13th July PCSO Stannard held a Police surgery at St Martin’s Primary School with Mrs Beard (Head of the school) to listen to parents concerns about the level of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the play park in Cranbrook.

Around a dozen parents showed up to discuss with me some of the issues that they have witnessed and had reported to them from their children. Some of these issues include bullying, intimidation and damage being caused to some of the play equipment. Many children now feel too scared to use the park in case they encounter any of this bullying.

The ASB is not just being caused by the children, with some adults causing problems too. There have been occasions when parents have been encouraging their child’s unruly behaviour, arguments between parents and also reports of adults smoking in the park.

This is all totally unacceptable.

PCSO Stannard has been given a list of names of some of the people acting inappropriately and we will be going to speak to them all over the next week about their behaviour.

If you witness anti-social behaviour in and around the park area, please report it to the police so we are fully aware of all of the problems and can take action to stop it, after all, the park is there to be enjoyed by all. Extra patrols will be undertaken in the area and anybody acting inappropriately will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

release date: 14 Jul 2015”

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/teams/Ottery-Rural/News/8b8d33aa-9f8c-4444-92c4-5b853d7354b6

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Comments

Pay freezes do not lead to poor morale in NHS says health minister

So, bankers bonuses are not needed then? And MPs don’t need it either?

“A health minister has sparked anger by claiming that NHS pay freezes have had no effect on staff morale.

Health minister Alastair Burt argues that NHS staff surveys show slight improvements in morale in recent years.

NHS pay costs were frozen between 2011 and 2013 and then pinned to 1% – although many staff, including most doctors, were at first refused 1% increases this year.

Non-medical staff eventually got a 1% staff after a series of one-day strikes.

Asked by the MP for Sheffield Heeley, Louise Haigh, he said: “There is no evidence that the pay freeze affected staff morale.”

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Janet Davies criticised his interpretation of the survey findings.

She said: “This is an interesting perception of NHS nurse morale which bears little relation to what we’re hearing on the frontline or what the NHS’ own staff survey revealed.

“The economic evidence speaks for itself. Nurses who are struggling to make ends meet are choosing to work for agencies instead.”

She added: “The Government must start taking the concerns of NHS staff seriously, by valuing the important work they are doing and giving them a decent wage. Five years of pay freezes would affect anyone’s morale.”

doctors.net.uk

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Budleigh Salterton, Democracy

Comments

Who do councillors represent – and why?

Yet another correspondent writes (thank you all: write to: eastdevonwatch@gmail.com if you have things to say – publication not guaranteed but always considered):

“EDDC councillors are consulted on planning applications in their patch and their comments carry weight. However, their comments should be confined to material planning considerations as with the rest of us.

Go to planning application 15/1881 and you will find that Councillor Tom Wright enjoys a cup of tea in bed with his wife in the morning enjoying a view of the sea. He then goes on to support a planning application involving demolition of an Arts and Crafts style house in a Conservation Area and an AONB in the heart of Budleigh Salterton.

There is no mention that this is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and planning permission should be refused in such designated areas except in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that they are in the public interest. He also does not support the local Budleigh Salterton Town Council which objects to this application and of which he is a member.

He will find if he reads other consultees’ comments that the Environment Agency objects on grounds of flooding, that Historic England considers that the potential loss of the structure and the proposed replacement would result in a harmful impact to the character and appearance of the conservation area and would be unable to support the application and the County Archaeologist advises that the EDDC Conservation Officer should be consulted on the demolition of a substantial dwelling built in the Arts and Crafts style within the town’s Conservation Area and the impact this may have upon it.

Who is Councillor Wright actually representing here?”

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Misc

Advice to Prime Minister: never get on the wrong side of a billionaire funder or the Daily Mail!

“On Day One, the book claims that:

Mr Cameron was a member of a ‘dope smoking group’ called the Flam Club at Oxford University;

Cocaine was later allowed to circulate at his and his wife’s London home;

Mr Cameron was also in a debauched Oxford society that specialises in ‘bizarre rituals and sexual excess’;
The book reports a source who claims that during Mr Cameron’s initiation ceremony he ‘put a private part of his anatomy’ into a dead pig’s mouth. Furthermore, the source claims to have seen photographic evidence;

Lynton Crosby, the pollster who guided the PM to electoral victory, privately thinks he is a ‘tosser’ and ‘posh ****’.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3242494/Revenge-PM-s-snub-billionaire-funded-Tories-years-sparked-explosive-political-book-decade.html

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An angry doctor speaks out

A frustrated NHS medic has appealed to his fellow health workers to “wake up” to what the Conservative government is doing to public sector pay and conditions.

In a powerful post on Facebook, medic Chris Smart wrote “I’m so angry, it’s hard to articulate in words.

“The Tories are just doing what is in their nature, like a cat disembowelling a sparrow on the kitchen floor. They can’t really help it.

“It is just what they’ll do if you let them. I am however, absolutely incensed, to the point of approaching aneurysm popping levels of blood pressure, with the fact that we are even -considering- letting them.

“I don’t know which I hate more. The pathetic servile fatalism of the majority, or the way the rest want to pussy off to Australia.”

Smart has also produced an online calculator which allows medics to input their shift patterns to determine how much they will earn under new reforms by Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary.

Smart’s solution to ever-dwindling levels of pay is to call for a mass strike – the first in the service’s history.

He writes: “We can strike entirely safely. We close all non-urgent outpatients clinics. We stop all non urgent surgery. We let the entire elective side of the NHS grind to a complete halt.

“Nobody has to die. Your honour will remain intact.

“Furthermore, in two decades time you will be able to tell the medical students you teach, that the reason they have chosen a good career, is because twenty years ago, you f*ing stood up for it.”

Smart has received a huge amount of support from fellow NHS workers, hinting at the level of discontent amongst front line medical staff.

His post has already been shared of seven thousand times online, and hundreds of people have commented to lend him support.

But not everyone agrees NHS workers should be able strike to achieve better conditions.

One commenter wrote: “I think the NHS needs to look at where the money is being spent and, look a bit closer to home at the top heavy brass and administration were your money is flowing out of your organization.”

Huffington Post UK, today

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Devolution, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter, Teignbridge

How many “partners” does East Devon District Council have?

East Devon, Teignbridge and Exeter have a “Greater Exeter” partnership:
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Greater-Exeter-created-council-link/story-24643530-detail/story.html

East Devon, Plymouth, Teignbridge and Exeter have a shared IT partnership:
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Cross-council-merger-puts-170-Devon-jobs-risk/story-18143536-detail/story.html

East Devon is one of the districts signing up to a devolutionary Somerset and Devon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34155536

East Devon has bid for a debt recovery service with
North Devon District Council, Teignbridge District Council and Torbay Council:
http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP103432

It’s getting a bit like a polygamous marriage!

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Clyst St Mary, EDDC

Clyst St Mary: very large retirement community planning application

From a correspondent:

Outline application for a continuing care retirement community comprising a 60 bed care home, 54 extra care apartments, visitor accommodation, up to 16 age-restricted dwellings and a range of community facilities
Land to the North of A3052 between the Cat and Fiddle and Devon County Showground, Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary

East Devon District Council has recently refused permission twice in February 2015 and July 2015 (Applications No. 14/2237/ MOUT and 15/0693/MOUT) for the development of 93 dwellings on this land by reason of the number of units and its unsustainable location in the countryside being remote from local services, infrastructure and employment opportunities.

This new application for a proposed retirement community seeks to counteract the refusal decision on the unsustainable grounds with the provision of GP and health care services, an on-site shop, restaurant, cafe, library, hair/beauty salon and community facilities, providing substantial employment opportunities within a continuing care retirement community in a formal campus design set in landscaped surroundings.

Ostensibly the concept of such a development in East Devon appears sound considering the projected number of elderly residents living in the area by providing care home facilities, extra care apartments and independent accommodation including affordable housing on one site. Under the Care Act 2014 local authorities must be mindful of the provision of living accommodation for older populations, giving them adequate choices and ranges of facilities for their wellbeing. This type of development ultimately frees up future housing stock for families, addressing the housing crisis and providing more suitable and safe living accommodation for the elderly. In recent years, large numbers of residential care homes have closed locally caused by financial problems and the inability to address government guidelines for future improved care for the elderly in suitable accommodation, leaving the remaining care homes mostly oversubscribed.

However, EDDC planners must now consider the size, location and quality of this proposed continuing care retirement community provision in this rural locality, assessing any local need and ultimately deciding whether this site is the correct one for such development by weighing up all the advantages and disadvantages to ultimately achieve a balanced decision.

Significantly this site is outside the BUAB for development in the current East Devon Adopted Local Plan and is not identified in either the EDDC Emerging New Local Plan to 2031 or the Emerging Neighbourhood Plan for Clyst St Mary, being located in the countryside. Developers continue to try to prove that existing or emerging local authority Local Plans are unsound to gain substantial developments in rural areas but there must be a need identified for such development to benefit the community without unbalanced detrimental aspects weighing heavily on the local vicinity.

It is considered that the scale of a 60 bed care facility, plus 54 extra care apartments and 16 age restricted dwellings, plus visitor accommodation and community facilities designed principally at a 2 storey height is an overdevelopment of the site and would prove overpowering on the rural setting, particularly on the low level homes of the adjoining Cat and Fiddle Retirement Park.

Traffic movements on such a development will be significant, adding to an already busy arterial route, with Hill Barton and Greendale Industrial Estates continuing to increase in size, significantly affecting traffic congestion on the A3052. At peak times when approaching the Clyst St Mary roundabout, daily traffic queues back up for miles, causing motorists to rat-run through the quiet residential areas of Winslade Park and the old Village Road to avoid the congestion. The road safety issues of this are obvious and residents’ lives are being seriously compromised, especially those families with young children, the elderly and disabled.

Moreover, the speed of the rat-running traffic is often dangerous and these additional large scale proposals will definitely exacerbate the traffic problems in the whole area. Devon County Council cannot continue to state that these roads are coping and a robust traffic improvement around this area is necessary and overdue.

The proposed right turn lane will only benefit vehicular access into the proposed development. It will be very difficult for vehicles to turn right when leaving the site towards Clyst St Mary without the benefit of some traffic control.

An improved cycle path and pedestrian walkway from the site towards Westpoint (plus the local bus stop) are indeed sustainable and will be accessed by some. However, it is considered, given the outlying location, that the main transport choices will prove to be cars, vans and lorries to support deliveries, medical facilities, employment, residents and visitors. It is unlikely that large numbers of elderly people will use the more sustainable cycle and pedestrian routes provided, even with the encouragement and distribution of leaflets from a Travel Plan Co-ordinator! The percentage of people using public transport in Clyst St Mary is far lower than the national average because most economic, social and environmental areas are not easily accessible by foot, cycle or public transport.

Clyst St Mary has a history of flooding and planning policy must ensure that there is no increased risk to existing properties from these proposals. Even with the provision of attenuation ponds to aid drainage run-off from this development, flooding issues remain a great concern to existing residents. Drainage flows are already defective leaving surface water unable to dissipate satisfactorily in peak conditions with inevitable flooding and the village being regularly at risk and listed on flood alerts by the Environment Agency. The loss of the existing permeable green open space, which at present aids drainage run-off, could exacerbate the flooding problems in the village. It is also feared that the existing village foul water systems are inadequate and cannot cope with any substantial additional load without the provision of major drainage improvement systems to alleviate risks of flooding. It is also hoped that the Environmental Land Quality Investigation undertaken has been thorough, with any future recommendations regarding proposed building, air quality and drainage being stringently followed, as there are still continuing concerns from locals over the land contamination by the burial of a cow with anthrax in the 1960s.

The environmental impact on a site in the countryside is obvious and all recommendations for the protection of quality trees, wildlife, both flora and fauna, must be observed. There are also areas of potential archaeological interest within this site and the correct procedures must be followed for their protection and investigation.

Historically, this site was granted planning approval for a hotel from 1989 to 2001 but this approval has now lapsed. In more recent years development companies have favoured large scale development including hotels in the expanding business locality of the West End around Skypark, the Science Park and Cranbrook as being more sustainable but leaving the developmental opportunities for this site in the countryside limited and restrictive and it would appear that the disadvantages of this rural site for such large scale development clearly outweigh the advantages.

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Asset sweating, Beach huts, EDDC

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Beach huts, the sorry tale continues

Listed below are the RECOMMENDATIONS Scrutiny Committee made, It must be stressed they are NOT DECISIONS – the decision will be made at full council next month.

•Consider the requirements of all the community in line with equalities legislation in considering any proposals relating to beach huts
• Consider the validity of waiting lists for beach huts and sites and to review their management
• Confirm to tenants of beach huts and sites that the current arrangements will remain in place for 2016
• Ensure an annual review of hire charges for beach huts and sites be put in place
• Review its decision to establish an annual £19k sinking fund
• Give consideration to the difference between town and parish locations in relation to equality and best value requirements
• Give consideration to further discussions with town and parish councils on the options of undertaking the management of beach huts
• Give consideration to increasing the number of available beach hut sites and to review more diverse letting arrangements;
• Give consideration to wider environment and economic issues when bringing forward any proposals.”

There was also controversy as to whether beach hut users are already paying rates: some users maintain that rates have been included since 2006, EDDC maintaining that this has not been the case.

Hut users also point out that, if East Devon sells off all its huts to its current renters as it has said it will do, costs to the council will be minimal from 2016, with only sites to be allocated.

So why the £19,000 per year sinking fund – what would it be for? Or was that just added in to inflate future costs?

Will common sense prevail? Hard to say.

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EDDC

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Web-based council services

EDDC tells us that they will not need as much space or as many office staff when they relocate as many services will be web-based.

So, what do you do when you need information urgently and this happens:

which says:

“Due to an essential upgrade, all online benefits claim, setting up a direct debit on-line, change of address and search for Council Tax/Business Rates bands services will be offline from Friday 25 September 2015 at 2.45pm until Monday 28 September 2015 at 8.30am.”

In fact, it appears the whole EDDC site is offline, not just the services mentioned. Will planning application comments and public consultations, etc be extended to take account of this?

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EDDC, Feniton/ Talaton, Wainhomes

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The perils of a developer-led district: EDDC v Wainhomes in Feniton

Full details of Wainhomes total arrogance here:

https://susiebond.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/eddc-takes-a-firm-stand-against-wainhomes/

EDDC’s last paragraph in their letter to Wainhomes states:

“Both myself and colleagues have in recent weeks offered to meet with representatives from Wainhomes either in the offices here or on site and I am disappointed that none of these offers have been taken up. In an attempt to resolve this situation I can confirm that those offers still remain and I would strongly encourage an early dialogue in respect of the matters identified.”

You see, that’s what happens when you have a developer-led district.

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Those “too small” Cranbrook garages: complaints fall on builders’ deaf ears

From this month’s Cranbrook Herald e-edition.

Builders say that, as there are no national rules, they are free to decide how big garages should be and tough luck if your car doesn’t fit.

Interesting that this appears only on page 17 of the newspaper!

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Affordable and Social Housing, Claire Wright, Cranbrook, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Skypark

Comments

Did Claire Wright have a crystal ball when speaking about Cranbrook and the ‘Growth Point’ in 2012?

Here are a few comments she made at that time when she and other councillors visited the Growth Point on 11 May 2012l:

“I asked how many companies had bought space at Skypark.

Answer: None.

And Skypark has been marketed for well over a year.

I remembered the stark warning given by consultants, Roger Tym, who state on page 75 of their Housing and Employment Study 2011, that marketing for a 1.4m sq ft scheme at Langage Business Park in Plymouth has progressed over the last five years without success of obtaining a single occupier.

It is the challenge of dealing with large strategic allocations, they say.

Hopefully, Skypark will achieve full occupation in time. But it does rather put the challenge of filling the many and large industrial allocations for the rest of East Devon, into perspective.

If Skypark, in a hugely convenient location is not proving a goer (so far), what hope is there for almost 50 acres of industrial land allocated for Honiton?”

Recall that Asda pulled out of Heathpark and now EDDC is plugging the gap by moving there itself at enormous cost. Skypark is still mostly empty with its owners having gone on record to say it could take many, many years to rent it all out.

And, having just returned from a visit to Cranbrook on the same day, she wrote:

“When I got home I couldn’t help wondering whether:

– the Skypark would ever get off the ground, or instead would mirror the non-progress of Langage Business Park in Plymouth

– the Science Park would ever consist of any more than Exeter University’s Innovation Centre

– If the inhabitants of Rockbeare would be swallowed up by Cranbrook, following a highly dubious decision, backed by the majority of the Local Plan Panel (not me) and Development Management Committee, to allocate south of the A30 for future expansion, despite a promise that this would not happen

– the public would ever consider the millions of pounds of public money ploughed into ‘growth point’ and Cranbrook, as money well spent.

– What sort of town Cranbrook would become. How big would it grow? Would I enjoy visiting it?

I have no answers to these questions yet. No one does. Only time will tell.

I have to say I am already rather tired of the pictures in local papers of grinning councillor and developer faces at turf cuts, of the continual talk of ‘great excitement’ and the oft heard promises of thousands of jobs and creation of wealth, none of which has materialised yet… and may not ever do so.

That said, I genuinely hope that ‘growth point’ and Cranbrook are huge successes.

Mainly because any other outcome would be a staggering waste of public funding, not to mention an irreplaceable loss of beautiful countryside.”

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/an_honest_look_at_cranbrook_and_growth_point

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Cranbrook, EDDC, Freedom of Information Act, Transparency

More on that “East Devon Design Panel”

A correspondent writes:

“According to an Exmouth Conservation Area Management Plan presented to DMC on 1 June 2010, “The Design Review Panel has been set up to scrutinise design within the district on a quarterly basis and conclusions are reported to Members and officers.” Ditto on similar documents on 6 Dec 2011.

However a special Local Plan DMC on 17 July 2012 said “A Design Review Panel meets once every six months to assess built developments and comment on design issues.” So your guess is as good as mine about how often it meets.

DMC meetings on: 22 Sep 2009, 12 Jan 2010, 27 July 2010, 5 April 2011, 6 Mar 2012, 17 July 2012, 21 Aug 2012, 2 April 2013 and 7 Jan 2014 included formal documents from the Design Review Panel for DMC to note.

However, despite ICO requirements to publish agendas, reports and minutes of all standing Forums and Panels on their web site, this is one which is not published.”