Seven alternative options to develop Sidford's AONB

The District Council has declared that it wants to see the fields north of Sidford developed:
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> REFUSED: but "countryside will still be developed"
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> REFUSED: but "the council remains committed to seeing the Sidford Two Bridges site developed for employment purposes – its allocation remains in place and is supported by the Local Plan"

These fields must become 'employment land' - as stipulated in the Local Plan:

Jobs - provision of up to 5 hectares of additional employment land, with a particular onus on B1 space (with any retail “ancillary to primary use of each unit”.). 
Land is allocated north of Sidford (Site 041A / 041B). 
This will be developed in 2 phases, the first of 3 hectares in the Southern part of the site (041B), and the second phase of 2 hectares in the Northern part of the site (041A) after the 5 year review of the Local Plan. 
The second phase will not be allowed to go ahead until after the 5 year review and only if the Southern part of the site has been fully developed and at least 90% occupied for employment uses first. 
If the first phase has not been developed by the first plan review, then the employment allocation for Sidmouth should be re-examined. 
Furthermore, the employment site must be subject to the highest design and landscaping standards with extensive planting and wide buffers around existing homes to minimise any amenity impacts. 

local-plan-final-adopted-plan-2016.pdf

Here is a list of options which might be considered as alternatives to the rejected planning application - with arguments for and against each option:


OPTION 1: WHEAT FIELDS:

FOR: keeping top quality agricultural land, which is Policy EN13 in the Local Plan: URGENT! Sidford Business Park Planning Application now in. “The more people who write in, the better”. DEADLINE for comments, WEDS 8th JUNE. | Save Our Sidmouth

BUT: the District Council doesn't seem to know how much Grade 1 and 2 farming land it has: Cloud Cuckoo Land? Super inquiry, day 7 | Susie Bond

AGAINST: it wants more 'B1 space', which translates as offices: Planning use classes in England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ALTHOUGH: this could well mean warehousing and lots of retail: Argos store at Honiton for example; and 00044RGHBU000 | Heathpark Industrial Estate Devonshire Road Heathpark Industrial Estate Honiton for almost everything else

AND: the rejected applicant had promised shed-loads (literally) of jobs: New business park plan could create 300 jobs for Sidford and Sidmouth | Exeter Express and Echo

ALTHOUGH: most of these would be on minimum wage: Warehouse Worker Salary (United Kingdom)


OPTION 2: PADDY FIELDS:

FOR: regular flooding: Floods in Sidbury/Sidford – bad luck if you have a 40 ton lorry going to an industrial site! | Save Our Sidmouth and Flood warning for River Sid | West Country - ITV News

AGAINST: the EA can't make up its mind: Environment Agency - Flood Warning Area Detail and Environment Agency defends ‘incomprehensible’ support of Sidford business park plans - Sidmouth Herald  and Sidford: Environment Agency “not using new flooding figures to save developer money” | East Devon Watch 


OPTION 3: KAYAK SCHOOL:

FOR: a nice bit of whitish water: River Sid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AGAINST: it's not going to employ 300, even on minimum wage: Kayak Instructor Jobs Profile from WatersportStaff.co.uk


OPTION 4: BIOFUEL STATION OR COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PLANT:

FOR: turn the pumping station on the River Sid into a CHP plant: Sewage waste energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Combined heat and power for sewage gas applications

AGAINST: not really that smelly in fact: FAQs | Anaerobic Digestion and, for example, Sewage is smell of success for 200 homes (From Oxford Mail)





OPTION 5: WILLOW WEAVING FARM:

FOR: a very Devon thing: Devon Association of Smallholders Training

AND: with lots of successful businesses: Windrush Willow and Trill Farm - Organic Farm, Education Centre, Bed & Breakfast & Farm Shop 

AND: ideal for wet ground: Willow, A New Old Crop | Cornell Small Farms Program

AGAINST: if you don't think willow makes an excellent sustainable resource: The Crucial Roles of Willows in Sustainable River Management | Flood Creek Non-Nativist Landcare and crafts for a sustainable future - what we do


OPTION 6: SCIENCE PARK:

FOR: lots of prestigious jobs: 10 well paid jobs of the future - Telegraph

AGAINST: the District Council already has one in the eastern part of its territory - and is selling its 'Science Park' to more warehousing: Lidl to create 500 jobs with new Devon hub | Insider Media Ltd and Plans for Ikea store in Exeter approved | Exeter Express and Echo



OPTION 7: AN INFORMAL BIT OF EMPLOYMENT LAND

FOR: local small businesses and start-ups get to build micro-workshops on an ad-hoc, as-needed basis: Why we need to rethink how we help micro-businesses grow and The importance of Small and Medium Sized Businesses | International Green Awards

AGAINST: not much political kudos: Politicians love talking about small business. Here's what they are getting all wrong. | Lucas Puente | LinkedIn and The new age of crony capitalism | The Economist

See also:
Futures Forum: Crony capitalism and lemon socialism in East Devon........ The costs of "substantial growth and expanding business"
Futures Forum: "Regeneration and economic development" in East Devon >>> looking beyond the conventional, the ideological and the heavyhanded
Futures Forum: Redeveloping East Devon >>> the alternatives to a heavy-handed approach

And:
Futures Forum: Sidford Business Park and the East Devon Business Forum
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