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Sunday 3 June 2018

Sidford business park >>> Town Council rejects application > further report

The Town Council reflected pretty much the mood of the public at its planning committee last week - when it turned down the planning application to build on the fields between Sidford and Sidbury:
Futures Forum: Sidford business park >>> Town Council rejects application

Devon Live reports: 

Unanimous town council objection against new Sidford business park plan

They raised concerns about flooding, traffic, air pollution and the damage to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty


1COMMENT

Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
1 JUN 2018




SIDFORD BUSINESS PARK PLANNED SITE

Sidmouth town council unanimously opposed plans for a new business park that could create 250 new jobs at the edge of Sidford.

Fords of Sidmouth have submitted new plans to build industrial, storage and non-residential institutions on agricultural land to the east of Two Bridges Road.

A similar, but larger, scheme was rejected by East Devon District Council officers back in 2016 as the application failed to demonstrate how the developers would achieve the high standards of design and landscaping, which are a requirement for all developments taking place in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.



Revised plans for a new business park on the edge of Sidford

In front of 150 residents who packed into Sidford Social Hall for Sidmouth town council’s planning committee, the council unanimously opposed the revised scheme.

READ MORE
Business park plans back on the table for Devon beauty spot


Rejecting the scheme, the town council said: “The proposed development would exacerbate flooding in an already regularly flooded area and would be detrimental to the amenity of residents with an increase in traffic in the vicinity of the site and through the villages of Sidford and Sidbury, resulting in additional air pollution, congestion and adversely impacting on the residents of surrounding properties.

“The proposed development would create a significant and detrimental visual impact in the countryside within the important Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with an associated detrimental impact on the vital local Tourism industry. The proposed development could adversely affect the economic viability of Sidmouth's town centre and the need for the development had not been proven with the existing employment site at Alexandria Road still having capacity.”


The site of the proposed new business park on the edge of Sidford

They added: “Members objected to the loss of wildlife habitat and the detrimental effect this would have on wildlife including the bats identified on the site and the removal of the hedgerow in Laundry Lane. Members were of the view that the Transport Assessment provided by the applicant is inadequate and that a further independent and more detailed Transport Assessment should be carried out.”

The scheme, submitted to planners last month, reduces the size of the application site down from 22,800 sq m to just 8,445 sq m and no longer includes the proposed distribution units. The applicants say that 250 new jobs would be created as part of the scheme and that the site’s development will secure a cycleway to the employment site.


The site of the proposed new business park on the edge of Sidford

New highway access, improvements to flood attenuation and new hedgerow planting would also be included in the application.

A statement submitted with the application says: “The application reduces the volume of the proposed development from 22,800 sqm over two phases to 8,446 sqm over one phase. The split of uses has been modified and the initial B2 general industry provision has been entirely removed. The volume of traffic and the overall impact of the development will clearly be lessened by the proposed reduction in development volume.

“The area of land for planting and landscape has been increased and a landscape strategy for the site is likely to deliver benefits to wildlife and people, as well as reduce visual impact. The site will achieve and attractive employment environment, beneficial improvements to flood risk, as well as flood attenuation associated with the development itself. The site’s development will secure a cycleway to the employment site and could secure 250 new jobs.”


The site of the proposed new business park on the edge of Sidford

The application adds that the development accords with the adopted Local Plan.



Unanimous town council objection against new Sidford business park plan - Devon Live

With more from Devon Live here:
Business park plans back on the table for Devon beauty spot - Devon Live

And more from the archives here:
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > new planning application submitted > public consultation to 15th June
Futures Forum: Re-looking at the Sidford to Sidbury cycle path
Futures Forum: BREAKING NEWS >>> Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> REFUSED
Futures Forum: Sidford business park > Fords planning application >>> 16/0669/MOUT >>> REFUSED: but "countryside will still be developed" 
Futures Forum: Seven alternative options to develop Sidford's AONB
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