Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: planning application to be considered by District Council: Tuesday 6th December >>> planning officers dismiss the need for affordable housing, their own Local Plan, and similar PegasusLife applications which have been refused
As Save Our Sidmouth points out: the District Council is being urged to ignore its own Local Plan
Can DMC members make an unbiased decision on Pegasus Life planning application, on this Tuesday’s agenda? (6th Dec, 10.30 a.m, Knowle. Public can attend)
December 4, 2016 by sidmouthsid Leave a comment
The decision to be taken by the Council’s Development Management Committee (DMC) this week, carries a heavy responsibility.
The DMC can’t fail to be embarrassed by their own Council’s latest defiance of the Information Commissioner’s ruling that unless certain Knowle documents are released, it is impossible for the public to see whether relocation is justified. A tricky position for the DMC, as much of the relocation project hangs on this planning application being approved.
A more direct problem is that this PegasusLife planning application appears to involve considerable departure from East Devon’s own Local Plan. For examples, see http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/knowle-relocation-project-setting-of.html
Which begs the question, “What is the point of a Local Plan?” and how seriously should it be taken by the Council responsible for drawing it up?
Can DMC members make an unbiased decision on Pegasus Life planning application, on this Tuesday’s agenda? (6th Dec, 10.30 a.m, Knowle. Public can attend) | Save Our Sidmouth
SOS also gives an overview of what to view - or not:
Perspectives of Knowle, before and after Pegasus Life proposals. | Save Our Sidmouth
The East Devon Watch blog has also noted the obvious:
THE LOCAL PLAN IS NOW READY TO DEPART FROM SIDMOUTH …
4 DEC 2016
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.
2 thoughts on “The Local Plan is now ready to depart from Sidmouth …”
Paul F says:
4 Dec 2016 at 5:16pm
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?
Paul F says:
4 Dec 2016 at 5:18pm
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.
The Local Plan is now ready to depart from Sidmouth … | East Devon Watch
Parallel to this, the legal process over publishing the contract with PegasusLife is about to start:
EDDC lack of transparency challenged – again | East Devon Watch
EDDC’s transparency challenged over relocation from Sidmouth - News - Sidmouth Herald
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.
.
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.
2 thoughts on “The Local Plan is now ready to depart from Sidmouth …”
Paul F says:4 Dec 2016 at 5:16pm
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?
Paul F says:4 Dec 2016 at 5:18pm
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.
The Local Plan is now ready to depart from Sidmouth … | East Devon Watch
Parallel to this, the legal process over publishing the contract with PegasusLife is about to start:
EDDC lack of transparency challenged – again | East Devon Watch
EDDC’s transparency challenged over relocation from Sidmouth - News - Sidmouth Herald
.
.
.
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