The agenda for the December 6th DMC meeting makes an interesting read. Two very contentious applications are being considered.
First: The Pegasus Life, Sidmouth scheme is, to quote a planning officer-
“A DEPARTURE FROM THE LOCAL PLAN, providing apartments with extra care in excess of the allocation or requirements of the plan, it therefore makes a meaningful contribution to housing delivery on a largely brownfield site.”
Second: The Syon House, Frogmore Road, East Budleigh scheme is, to quote again-
“The application represents A DEPARTURE FROM ADOPTED POLICY as the proposal does not fully accord with Strategy 35 in that a lower than 66% affordable housing provision is proposed.”
It makes Owl think that council tax payers should wonder why East Devon District Council spent a lot of time, money, tears and effort to finally get a local plan adopted just to DEPART from it less than a year from adoption.
East Devon Watch 
Equally to the point is what the rules are for arbitrary departures from the Local Plan.
Can any planning officer recommend, at any time and without any approvals needed, a departure from a Local Plan that has been approved by the Full Council and the Planning Inspector?
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I also thought that the whole purpose of the plan was to ensure a consistent approach to planning across East Devon.
Arbitrary departures from the plan whenever a planning officer fancies it not only leads to a lack of consistency, but it also opens the council up to suggestions of corruption.
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