Category Archives: Local Plan

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11 Apr 2015

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Local Plan, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Transparency

Sidford business park

Whilst it is true that, at EDDC, it was Councillors Troman (in particular) and Hughes (in general) who helped to get the ridiculous Sidford Fields business park deleted from the draft local plan, it was the constant work of EDA members in Sidford, Sidmouth and beyond, that kept the issue at the forefront of the discussions and publicity that led to the change:

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/victory_in_fight_to_see_12_acre_sidford_business_park_ditched_1_4020613

The remarks of CEO Mark Williams about that change are mind- blowingly insulting. He said:

“The inspector has already heard everything we have said and is yet to tell us what his view is on that part of the application. He may recommend that this site is not suitable and should be removed. It’s his decision now, not yours.

“It’s your funeral if you want to take it out.”

What he did not add is that, entirely without consultation or reference to any committee, except the Development Management Committee on the day, FIVE extra business parks, closer to Exeter, had been added to the draft recently.

A massive number of changes have been made to the latest draft, yet this one amendment, made by democratic decision in a transparent way, is the only one Mr Williams was worried about.

The Sidford Fields site was added AFTER public consultation on the first draft local plan, with no explanation whatsoever for its inclusion, as noted in a letter in this week’s Sidmouth Herald.

Councillor Mike Allen, in the same article, laid the blame squarely on Councillor Andrew Moulding:

“Cllr Moulding was accused by Cllr Mike Allen of being the person responsible for the allocation’s original inclusion in the plan.

“Cllr Allen said: “There’s no demand, no economic case and it would damage the tourism industry in Sidmouth. There’s no justification for keeping it. Please could we get rid of this site once and for all.”

Anyone making a Freedom of Information request for correspondence or meetings about inclusion/exclusion of the site?

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9 Apr 2015

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COVOP, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), Latest news, Local Plan, National Planning Policy Framework, Neighbourhood Plans, Wainhomes

Housing ‘crisis’ based on shaky foundations?

Simon Jenkins believes so. For those who missed it first time round, here’s his evidence…http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9452952/the-myth-of-the-housing-crisis/

 

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7 Apr 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, COVOP, EDDC, Local Plan

More on the demonstration on planning outrage to be held in Sidmouth on Sunday

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/East-Devon-demonstration-protest-8220-way-housing/story-26295112-detail/story.html

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6 Apr 2015

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Cranbrook, Exeter City Council, Local Plan

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Exeter homes are unaffordable – so where do housebuyers go?

The article cited below blames not only high house prices but also the fact that many sites in the city boundary are now snapped up for student housing (which is not counted in Local Plans). With more than 18,000 students that means that Exeter is bursting at the seams and when a site (green or brown) becomes available in the city, the University snaps it up, leading to the “town v gown” mentality common in most big university cities.

The number of student dwellings in the city rose from 1,495 in October 2009 to 2,975 in October 2014 – an increase of 98.99 per cent.
 says the article.

Towns such as Cranbrook and Newton Abbott are therefore becoming dormitories and commuter belts for what EDDC is already calling “Greater Exeter” – meaning many people must take to their cars in East Devon to get to their jobs in Exeter and those same people use their cars to get to entertainment and leisure facilities in the city. Bus travel is being cut not expanded, so no help there.

With EDDC’s choice of high economic growth for our Local Plan this basically means we now have to dance to Exeter’s tune – the more jobs Exeter creates, the more houses we have to build. The more sites the University buys in the city, the more workers must find alternatives elsewhere.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exeter-affordable-cities-home-buyers/story-26286503-detail/story.html

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3 Apr 2015

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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), EDDC, Local Plan, Local Plan Inspector

EDDC’s letters to Planning Inspector on latest draft local plan

18 March 2015

Click to access 07-letter-to-mr-thickett-18-march-2015.pdf

30 March 2015:

Click to access 08-letter-to-mr-thickett-30-march-2015.pdf

and

Click to access cil-letter-31-03-15.pdf

Mr Thickett, the Inspector, is usually quick to respond so we should see replies to all three of these soon (or, indeed, he may have already replied but letters may be awaiting posting on EDDC’s webpage of correspondence with the Inspector:

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/emerging-plans-and-policies/inspector-and-programme-officer/correspondence-between-the-inspector-and-council-after-the-examination-hearings/

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2 Apr 2015

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Cranbrook, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Greater Exeter, Latest news, Local Plan, National Planning Policy Framework, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Cranbrook to swallow Rockbeare?

See http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Villagers-concerned-250-homes-plan-connect/story-26269146-detail/story.html

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1 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), Hugo Swire, Latest news, Local Plan, Lympstone, National Planning Policy Framework, Neighbourhood Plans

Neighbourhood plans to the rescue?

Lympstone residents, Hugo Swire, and Ben Bradshaw, discuss this in the Sunday Politics show:

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1 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Land Supply, Local Plan

From the archives 3: 5 year land supply, known in 2009, problems predicted in 2013

All the problems predicted in 2009 and in January 2013 were highlighted again when the Inspector threw out the draft Local Plan in March 2014!

https://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/5-year-land-supply-problems-known-about-in-2009/

Now, why would you ignore councillor AND officer advice?

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31 Mar 2015

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Local Plan, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

From the archives – 2 – Sidford employment land

Here is where our CEO said in July 2013 that you can’t change the Local Plan – and then did just that by adding Knowle redevelopment and then in Februart 2015 allowing 5 new business parks to be listed in the most recent draft Local Plan:

“It would be straightforward to remove the Sidford allocation from the Local Plan: failure to do so would risk the rejection of the whole plan by the Inspector. He seconded Cllr Troman’s motion that it should be deleted.

Chief Executive Mark Williams then advised that this would not be possible legally as it was not a minor amendment.

This provoked an extraordinary attack on Mr Williams by Cllr Allen. His advice was a “biased” view which showed ignorance of the NPPF. He did not have a “grip” on the legal situation, and had not taken account of all the legal considerations.
Tory Whip, Phil Twiss, jumped up to defend the CEO who must be right “because he is a solicitor” and Cllr Allen wasn’t!

Allen, who, in his day job is the Officer Responsible for Regeneration at South Somerset District Council, calmly replied that he had a considerable legal authority on his side – the NPPF.

A rather shell-shocked Council then proceeded to vote on the motion to delete Sidford. It was rejected.”

The Tory majority – immune to argument- went on to approve all the “minor amendments” to the Local Plan which approves the Knowle and Sidford proposals.

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31 Mar 2015

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Budleigh Salterton, COVOP, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Environment (local), General Election, Latest news, Local Plan, Planning System, Tourism

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Marketing the Jurassic Coast…

….is a complicated business.
Latest aerial views keep us up to date with what’s happening, with EDDC planners’ approval:
http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/comparing-visions-for-development-of.html

And bodies such as the Environment Agency alert us to some of the problems..Has this one been solved?? : https://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/east-devon-beaches-at-seaton-ladram-bay-and-budleigh-salterton-too-polluted-to-swim-at/

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31 Mar 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, EDDC, Environment (local), Local Plan

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More on balanced growth

Balanced Growth

Definition of Balanced Growth:

“Balanced Growth refers to a specific type of economic growth that is sustainable in the long term. Balanced growth is opposed to the boom and bust nature of economic cycles.”

It was felt the UK had balanced growth between 1993 and 2007 – a long period of economic expansion and low inflation.

However, the credit crunch of 2007, showed the growth wasn’t as balanced as previously thought. Despite low inflation, there was a boom in bank lending and growth of credit. There was also a boom in house prices which got reversed from 2007.

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/balanced-growth

So, why has EDDC chosen “economic growth” which is highly susceptible to boom and bust, particularly in the housing market, where a change in mortgage interest rates could lead many people into negative equity?

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30 Mar 2015

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Local Plan

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“Employment sites” – 5 new sites sneak into the Local Plan

Employment Sites

Sites included in this report are both existing employment sites and those proposed as employment sites in the new Local Plan. Each site has been given a reference number. Five new sites have been added to the assessment this year:

Woodbury Business Park

Addlepool Business Centre

Lodge Trading Estate

Hungry Fox Estate

McBains

Click to access employment-land-review-2014.pdf

Anyone recall CEO Mark Williams saying at the Local Plan DMC meeting that you couldn’t change the Local Plan by taking sites out? Apparently, it’s OK to put them in!

And just where are some of these sites: the names seem somewhat misleading.

Addlepool is in Clyst St George
Lodge Trading Estate is at Broadclyst
Hungry Fox is also Broadclyst
McBains is presumably the site at Exeter Airport

Creeping industrialisation of villages in the West End …?

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30 Mar 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, Land Supply, Local Plan

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Where are all the houses going? Where are we with land supply?

This might give some clues:

Click to access housing-monitoring-update-to-30-sept-2014-ver02.pdf

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30 Mar 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, EDDC, Environment (local), Local Plan, Mid Devon

“Economic growth” (EDDC choice) or “Balanced growth” (Mid Devon choice) for Local Plans

Based on the same reports from the same consultants, East Devon District Council has chosen “Economic Growth” but Mid Devon has chosen “Balancec Growth” . Here, in their Core Strategy, is why Mid Devon made its choice:

Economic growth strategy alternative:

5.7 Economic development would be the main priority for this strategy option, with social and environmental objectives set at a lower level of importance.

· High housing and employment growth, with sites chosen largely for economic viability.

· Limited affordable housing provision.

· Housing concentrated at Tiverton and Cullompton

· Employment to be promoted at locations such as motorway junctions.

· Employment provision in the rural areas strongly encouraged.

· Efforts to attract major tourist attractions.

· Retail development promoted in the three Area Centres.

· No limitations on car use.

5.8 This strategy is in many ways the converse of the environmental protection strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal found that its costs and benefits to sustainability are therefore largely a mirror image. It would involve the greatest use of Greenfield land for development for both housing and employment, with inevitable landscape impacts arising. Notably, the location of development, with its emphasis on car – based access, will lead to greater travel overall than the other strategies, with much worse impact on climate change.
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Balanced growth strategy alternative

5.9 The Balanced Growth strategy option would seek to minimise the conflict between social, environmental and economic objectives, and promote the balanced achievement of sustainable development. It was an evolution of the current strategy and policies set out in the Mid Devon Local Plan First Alteration.

· Development of new housing concentrated on the Area Centres, particularly Tiverton.

· Housing density generally higher than in the past but based on design – led solutions.

· Smaller dwellings provided, with maximum affordable housing provision.

· Rural housing generally limited to local need.

· Employment close to housing, encouraging town centre provision

and homeworking.

· Small scale employment and tourist provision encouraged throughout the rural areas.

· Promotion of a significant retail provision in Crediton.

· Some increased control over design, particularly in historic areas,

with targeted environmental enhancements continuing.

· Renewable energy schemes encouraged, together with low energy development.

· Car restraint, and provision of alternatives to the car, to concentrate on the Area Centres.

5.10 This strategy is the most sustainable of the strategies proposed, being positive in the majority of the factors, and negative in none. It would provide for both housing and economic development in locations which minimise traffic generation, allowing for small rural economic diversification. For these reasons, it formed the initial basis for the Core Strategy policies.

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29 Mar 2015

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EDDC, Local Plan

High growth and sustainability

Cornwall seems to have a better understanding of the pros and cons than East Devon:

Sustainability of high growth

Click to access Sustainability-Appraisal-of-growth-options-overall-analysis-of-trends.pdf

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27 Mar 2015

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Cranbrook, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Environment (local), Local Plan, Mid Devon, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

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Local Plans: with the same figures, Mid-Devon opts for low growth in housing numbers East Devon opts for high growth

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF BATTLING THE SIDFORD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IS STRUCK FROM LOCAL PLAN

The hugely controversial industrial estate, proposed at Sidford was today struck from EDDC’s Local Plan, following a proposal by Cllrs Stuart Hughes and Graham Troman.

The five hectare site was inserted into the Local Plan at the last minute when I was a member of the panel back in 2011.

It has taken local people four years of campaigning for the council to finally agree to delete it. Many votes of a similar nature have been taken in the past and have failed. Today’s got through.

The move took place at today’s extraordinary full council meeting to discuss revisions to the local plan.
I blasted the council for opting YET AGAIN for unevidenced and huge levels of growth that are contrary to consultants recommendations.

How many consultants have to tell EDDC that the right way forward is low growth before they actually listen? The answer is they never will listen. They (who I am not entirely sure) wants big big levels of development in East Devon – and so shall it be.

That is, until the planning inspector takes a look at it and wonders what on earth is going on.

A press release was issued by EDDC earlier this month which contained a grossly untrue statement about the planning inspector recommending the levels of growth that EDDC have opted for.

The planning inspector made no such recommendation. This was a disgraceful attempt to try and fool the public into believing that EDDC is doing the will of the planning inspector, who threw out the draft local plan last year.

See here for my blog earlier this week on what EDDC has done …. http://www.claire-wright.org/…/eddc_proposes_highest_housin…

Frankly, the council has sold the western end of the district off to the highest bidder. Villages like Clyst Honiton, Rockbeare and Blackhorse are set to be absolutely swamped in urban sprawl.

The council promised Rockbeare that it would be protected by a green wedge. If you saw the area that Cranbrook is set to expand now, massively south of the old A30, you would be shocked. Rockbeare is set to be lost amid bricks and concrete.

Whimple was supposed to have a green wedge to protect it from Cranbrook.
Not any more.

Whimple’s green wedge is proposed to have a great chunk eaten out of it as Cranbrook also sprawls to the east.

Given that councillors have never had the chance to question the consultants I moved an amendment that both sets of consultants are invited to the next overview and scrutiny committee meeting.

This amendment was argued against by the chief executive, who for some reason decided to mention my “parliamentary ambitions.”
It was voted down mainly by the conservative group.

My second amendment proposed an extension of the consultation period by two weeks, making a total of an eight week consultation period. This proposal was carried, despite some senior conservatives arguing against it.

Interestingly, I informed the council that Mid Devon District Council (which has been working with EDDC on this) has opted for a low growth scenario for its district. This is because Mid Devon councillors did not wish to concrete over any more of the countryside than they had to.

So why has EDDC opted for such a high growth level?(it is impossible to even match the levels to any figures in the reports!)

The chief executive said it was because East Devon is a “growth area.”
But I replied, the consultants knew this before they drafted their report didn’t they.

Yet they still recommended a preferred approach of significantly lower development, that is also in line with government growth projections.
Why oh why is EDDC doing this?

The Local Plan, with some minor amendments, was voted through by the majority of councillors.

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27 Mar 2015

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EDDC, Local Plan, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Still questions about the now-defunct Sidford Business Park

Whose idea was it to put it in the Local Plan?

Why?

What, where and with whom is the correspondence that led to the decision?

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26 Mar 2015

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Environment (local), Land Supply, Local Plan

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Number of houses planned on greenfield sites

Number of houses planned on Green Belt – March 2015
Research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England has found that 219,000 houses are planned for Green Belt sites:

Metropolitan (around London): 86,935
Yorkshire: 40,800
West Midlands: 35,550
South West (inc West of England county region): 16,245
Nottinghamshire: 13,800
North West: 11,810
North East: 8,000
Oxfordshire: 4,510
Cambridgeshire: 1,885

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/destruction-green-belt-land-rockets-5408790

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26 Mar 2015

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EDDC, Land Supply, Local Plan

Sensible decision-making without a Local Plan – you can say No

One for the next council since this one wouldn’t know a sensible decision about anything much except their own welfare:

http://www.pas.gov.uk/documents/332612/6363137/Sensible+decision+making+v2/ae85aa9f-908b-4dac-93f7-0c2b1addcd18