The site forms part of a major housing expansion in the area, as part of the Monkerton and Hill Barton masterplan which is included in the city’s housing land supply.

This document, published in 2010, provides a framework to “guide the future development of a sustainable urban extension to the north east of the city.”

Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

They could affect Met Office satellite info

New homes on the outskirts of Exeter could affect the Met Office’s ability to receive satellite information, unless planning conditions are put in place.

The weather forecaster has submitted a response to outline plans for up to 285 new homes at Hill Barton that city councillors will consider next week.

Devon developer Salter Property wants to built the properties just north of the Met Office, on land between it and Hollow Lane.

The site forms part of a major housing expansion in the area, as part of the Monkerton and Hill Barton masterplan which is included in the city’s housing land supply.

This document, published in 2010, provides a framework to “guide the future development of a sustainable urban extension to the north east of the city.”

In the last couple of years, approval has been given for housing on land adjoining the site , with construction well underway and many homes already built.

The wider development area received outline permission for 750 homes in 2013.

There is likely to be a mix of properties including houses and flats, however this does not need to be confirmed at the outline stage and will be subject to the final stage ‘reserved matters’ application.

The proposal will also provide open space with a multi-use games area (MUGA) and other equipped play areas.

Planning officers recommend approval, subject to a number of conditions and contributions towards local amenities. This includes £1 million towards new secondary school provision at South West Exeter, over £500,000 in transport contributions and £166,349 for GPs to be able to take on more patients.

The council wants 35 per cent of the homes set aside as affordable, in line with its policy for new developments, with 70 per cent of these for social rent.

Four objections have been received from members of the public, with worries about overdevelopment, a loss of open green space, and nearby schools and GP surgeries being “over capacity to cope.”

The Met Office’s concern is about the potential for the construction work to “obstruct the receipt of satellite data transmissions” but it has has no objection subject to the “inclusion of suitable worded planning conditions” to prevent such issues.

In conclusion, the planning officer’s report states: “The site is allocated with the core strategy for residential development and therefore the principle of development is considered to be acceptable.”

“Furthermore, the site has previously benefitted from an outline consent for residential development as part of a wider site, large parts of which have already been constructed.

“The development would provide a significant level of housing towards the council five-year housing supply which is to be welcomed.

“The application is for outline planning permission and therefore, while some concerns have been identified with the illustrative layout submitted, these have been drawn to the attention of the applicant. It is considered that there is no reason why these cannot be addressed as part of any ‘reserved matters’ application…”

Sidmouth’s promised Rockfish restaurant is facing a delay.

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

No date is yet set for the conversion of the derelict Drill Hall in Sidmouth into the seafood eatery as “legal matters” continue to halt progress. 

East Devon District Council (EDDC) agreed to sell the historic building to the  restaurant chain in February 2020, but the pandemic intervened. Legal disagreements with the previous owners, reported in December last year, continue to hold the deal back.

According to the council, the former owners say they could be owed money if the land becomes significantly more valuable in future; for example if a block of flats were to be built there.

EDDC, which currently owns the property, says that’s not the case because Drill Hall is being refurbished and that these payments, known as overages, only have to be paid when a building is knocked down and the land redeveloped. 

EDDC says no agreement has been reached with the former owners: “despite the efforts of the council and its solicitors”, a situation it describes as “very unfortunate.”

The news came in a statement in response to a question submitted by Sidmouth councillor Cathy Gardner (Independent East Devon Alliance and Democratic Alliance Group) ahead of a full council meeting. In its reply, EDDC also reported it was looking at ways to give Rockfish “the comfort” to enter an agrrement to buy the building before the legal dispute is resolved.  

Rockfish, owned by award-winning chef and restaurateur Mitch Tonks, has an ‘option agreement’ to take over the Drill Hall which expires at the end of October. If the legal dispute is not settled before this date the council might have to re-market the building.

EDDC says it expects Rockfish to stick with its plans, which is said may bring £1million of investment and 30 to 40 jobs into the area. 

In her written question, Cllr Gardener said: “After many years of campaigning to save the Drill Hall at Port Royal, Sidmouth from demolition, I was delighted that Rockfish were willing to take on the lease and convert the building…[but] residents are now concerned about the future of this historic building.” 

Speaking in 2020 another Sidmouth representative, Councillor Denise Bickley (Independent East Devon Alliance and Democratic Alliance Group), said she hoped the regeneration of the derelict building would “transform the Port Royal area.”

Her views were widely shared. At the time councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans. 

Torbay playing catch-up – Owl

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

Netflix beware!

Torbay residents will soon be able to watch council meetings online as the local authority finally takes more permanent steps to make use of streaming.

Torbay Council’s cabinet agreed to a ‘trial’ period for live streaming meetings that will start in May and last until the end of July next year. 

Councils were allowed to hold and make decisions in virtual meetings at the start of the pandemic. But since a High Court ruling in May last year, most local councils have had to meet in person.

However, this does not stop them from streaming meetings for the benefit of the public or councillors who may be unable to attend. 

Many councils, including most in Devon, have made use of this right and have kept live streaming their in-person meetings, allowing the public to watch online. 

Over the past year, the leadership of Torbay Council has insisted that this isn’t a good option for Torbay because of the cost and difficulty of setting up the technology in the council’s old buildings. 

Since late June 2021 the council hasn’t streamed any of its decision-making meetings, not even with a rudimentary webcam as has been used successfully by some councils.

Council leader Steve Darling (Lib Dems, Barton with Watcombe) said it was “a pity” that the government didn’t allow local authorities to decide if they wished to hold decision-making meetings over the internet or in person.

Commenting on the new streaming trial, Councillor Mike Morey (Independent, Furzeham with Summercombe), cabinet member for infrastructure, environment and culture, said: “Why should we expect people to come here [Torbay Council] to a central point to take part in and listen to meetings? 

“When we had Zooming, 12 months, two years ago, we had many more people taking part, whether that’s listening or participating. 

“They could dip in and out of meetings as and when they had something of interest, whereas if they travel here they’ve got to sit through a lot of interesting conversation until they get to their actual item.

“I do think live streaming and hybrid meetings do go some way to bring decision-making back to the people.”

Deputy leader of the council Darren Cowell (Independent Group, Shiphay) said the move was “long overdue” as many people are unable or unwilling to attend meetings. It’s also thought that more councillors attended meetings when they were streamed. 

There are no plans as yet to broadcast meetings of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee. Cllr Darling said: “This is a starter for ten and it is very costly as far as making this provision on a temporary basis and we need to get a longer-term solution for this.

If the pot will extend to overview and scrutiny then clearly we’ll do that. It’s about being realistic with what we have as far as the finances.” 

The council has not publicly revealed how much the trial will cost but it is known to be spending more than £50,000.

From a Correspondent:

We hope that the images below do not ‘stick in the craw’ of Owl, local ornithologists, naturalists and other East Devon environmentalists?

[Owl’s don’t have craws/crops for anything to get stuck in. They either swallow their prey whole or, Owl’s preference, tear them into small pieces and swallow them bit by bit!]

They are published in reply to today’s EDW posting entitled:-

‘VETO PLANS FOR UGLY HOMES, COUNCIL URGED – Could this apply to Clyst St Mary and the Winslade proposals? – Owl’

. . . . and indeed many residents living beside the proposed 15-metre 40 x 4.5 storey flats on a Winslade Park car park, encroaching into a TPO protected woodland and towering above tree-lines and existing 7-metre tall two-storey homes, have submitted their objections to these incongruous proposals (Application No. 21/2217/MRES) sited opposite a Grade II* Listed Historic Manor House in the East Devon rural village of Clyst St Mary.

The phrase ‘ugly homes’ can always be defended and dismissed by Developers as being subjective and based on personal feelings, tastes and opinions – but many will agree on what isand was is not ‘ugly behaviour’ i.e. inappropriate, harmful and disgraceful practices.

The following images show not only the ugly buildings that are proposed for Winslade Park in Clyst St Mary but also the ugly behaviour that has resulted in the recent decimation of large areas of mature trees and hedgerow within this car park area . . . . . and all this has happened before the Reserved Matters Planning Application has even been listed for an East Devon Planning Committee decision by elected planners!

The moment the chainsaws and mechanical chippers began annihilating this valued, natural environment, the residents informed various departments within EDDC – but to date there has been no official verification as to whether such extensive tree felling and hedge removal have authorisation or permission, either under the previous outline planning application or at all? Irrespective of this – these works have been undertaken and are still continuing during the prime bird nesting season, which, is surely, an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (which appears to recommend a pre-work schedule being agreed by the local authority to ensure no bird nests, bats, wildlife are present within the trees and hedges being removed)? Obviously the Developers have submitted evidence that there are no nesting birds in these areas – although local people did report seeing bird boxes and nests thrown down by their boundaries during the chainsaw massacres – but all evidence has now been chipped into piles of sawdust – along with all the mature trees and hedges! Furthermore, the area that has been destroyed to date totals more than 5m3 of trees – so isn’t a felling licence required from the Forestry Commission, even if the trees do not have the benefit of TPOs (again does such evidence exist)?

Sadly, the birdsong from innumerable, diverse, indigenous bird species – some rare – some more common – have been replaced by the continuing, intrusive drone of the chainsaws!

The images below tell their own story:-