Knowle relocation project > planning committee to consider 'impact on loss of light' of proposed development > Tuesday 10th October

The developer’s appeal against the decision to grant planning permission at Knowle will be heard by the Planning Inspectorate next month:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: Appeal documents published this week reveal the continued strength of feeling against redevelopment plans for Knowle

Meanwhile, there will be an extraordinary meeting to consider fresh evidence from the developer:

Fresh evidence to be considered in Knowle appeal

PUBLISHED: 09:54 03 October 2017

Stephen Sumner

EDDC's Knowle HQ. Ref shs 7705-15-12SH Picture: Simon Horn

Developer argues 113-home retirement community will result in little loss of light

Planning chiefs are staging an extraordinary meeting to consider fresh evidence in a developer’s bid to create a 113-home retirement community at Knowle.

PegasusLife has submitted further information about the impact on loss of light from its proposals on neighbouring properties, which was one of the reasons why East Devon District Council (EDDC) refused the scheme last December.

The developer’s appeal against the decision will be heard by the Planning Inspectorate next month.

EDDC’s planning officers are now recommending that the council no longer defends the refusal of planning permission on the grounds of loss of light to neighbouring properties.

If agreed by the development management committee (DMC) at its special meeting on Tuesday, October 10, the council will continue to defend the planning permission refusal for the other reasons relating to:

• the overly dominant impact of the development;

• the visually overbearing impact; loss of privacy to neighbouring occupiers;

• that the proposal would not be a residential institution (C2 use) and is not exempt from providing affordable housing, and

• that the proposed development would have a harmful impact on the setting of the listed summerhouse.

DMC chairman Councillor Mike Howe said: “I appreciate how sensitive the redevelopment of Knowle is to Sidmouth and particularly to the residents that live around the site.

“It is therefore important that the community, and the owners of neighbouring properties who are most affected by this proposed change to the reasons for refusal, have adequate time to consider the report on the issue of loss of light and hear the matter being debated by committee members.

“This is why a special meeting of the committee has been called to consider this issue.”

The DMC agenda says PegasusLife submitted evidence that there will be little impact on Knowle Drive property Hillcrest in terms of daylight or sunlight, and that EDDC officers do not disagree with its conclusions.

The appeal is due to be heard at a five-day public inquiry which starts on November 28 at Knowle.

If approved, PegasusLife has agreed to pay EDDC £7.505 million for the site of its current HQ.

Fresh evidence to be considered in Knowle appeal - Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

See also:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: or, putting the cart before the horse >>> Building starts on a new HQ in Honiton, but with nothing to cover the £10m+ cost
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: a very nice place to hold a celebration
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: Why do 'half of new-build retirement homes sell at a loss'?
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: building for a lucrative market
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: PegasusLife appeal >>> submission from Neighbourhood Plan steering group
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