Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: PegasusLife appeal inquiry >>> 10am Tuesday 28th November
The Western Morning News was there:
Inquiry told Knowle plans 'way beyond what is needed' and would exasperate pressures on Sidmouth
Pegasus Life want to build a 113-home retirement community at East Devon District Council's current HQ - but the council's planning committee rejected the plans last year
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Daniel Clark 13:26, 28 NOV 2017
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More information revealed ahead of planning inquiry over future of The Knowle
A planning inquiry over the future of The Knowle in Sidmouth has heard that allowing the plans for a 113-apartment assisted-living community on the site would be way beyond what is acceptable and would exasperate the pressures the town is already under.
East Devon District Council decided in 2015 to relocate from its current headquarters at the Knowle to new offices in Honiton and Exmouth. And to finance the move, the council agreed to sell its Knowle headquarters to Pegasus Life Ltd for £7.5m.
But, those plans were thrown into jeopardy when a planning application by Pegasus Life for a 113-apartment assisted-living community for older people was refused by the council’s planning committee.
Artist impression of the Knowle plans
Pegasus Life has lodged an appeal and a planning inquiry, set to last for five days, began on Tuesday.
HERE IS HOW WE COVERED TUESDAY MORNING'S MEETING
Mr Ned Westaway, on behalf of East Devon District Council, told the inquiry, held at The Knowle: “This is not about the principle of development as this site is in the local plan for residential use. Nor is the appeal about the extra care nature of the development as the strategy 36 in the Local Plan promotes this.
“The issue is the scale and the design as it is well beyond the suggestion allocation and in terms of scale and design it is harmful to the surrounding area.
“The council’s case is that the buildings are visually harmful and excessive with their scale and height. The buildings are too high and will be overly dominant.
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More information revealed ahead of planning inquiry over future of The Knowle
“The council accepts there are positive elements and there is a need to this kind of development, but it is contrary to the development plan, and so the council will invite you to dismiss the appeal.”
Artist impression of the Knowle plans
Mr Simon Bird QC, representing Pegasus Life, outlined how their plans would provide an exemplary assisted living community not available in Sidmouth or East Devon and would solve a critical need for the ageing population in the county.
He said: “There is a truly compelling need for the scheme and major steps need to be taken now to ensure the quality of older people is not diminished and they are not put at risk.
“Not all the people will need a proposal like the one we propose, but if this only meets a small proportion, then it will still meet a need, as the demand is at such a high level.
“This has gone through an exemplary design scheme and is complimentary to surrounding and respectful of the neighbours.”
The Knowle, Sidmouth
He added that there would be changes to the current setting, but that did not mean the changes would be harmful and the site would be sensibly redeveloped.
Planning inspector Michael Boniface said that he agreed that the main issues of the appeal are the loss of character and appearance in the area, the effect of residents amenities and loss of privacy, what it should be classified as - whether it is C2 or C3 use, and the effect on the grade II listed summerhouse.
Local residents also spoke out against Pegasus Life’s plan.
A packed Knowle ahead of the meeting
Peter Atkinson said: “The massive building will be visually overbearing and this will constitute a considerable loss of privacy.”
Barry Curwen said: “There is no new evidence for this development that has been put forward since it was heavily discussed during the Local Plan process - and that need is district wide, not a local need.
“This will over-exceed the need and concentrate the need in just one location, and would exasperate the pressures that are already facing this community in Sidmouth. We owe it to the future of Sidmouth to ensure the town is balanced.”
PegasusLife's plans for Knowle
The planning inquiry continues.
Inquiry told Knowle plans 'way beyond what is needed' and would exasperate pressures on Sidmouth - Devon Live
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