Agenda and minutes

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Minute 147 to 157.

In accordance with the Code of Good Practice for Councillors and Officers dealing with planning matters as set out in the constitution the Chair, Councillor Todd Olive, advised of extensive lobbying to all members in respect of the proposed housing site allocations.

Minute 153. Seaton Site Selection Report.

Councillor Dan Ledger, Affects and prejudicial Non-registerable Interest, Lives opposite Seat_02 - land at Barnards Hill Lane, Seaton.

Minute 153. Seaton Site Selection Report.

Councillor Paul Hayward, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Family members live close to Seat_02 - land at Barnards Hill Lane, Seaton and Seat_13a - land adjacent to Axe View Road, Seaton.

Information on public speaking is available online

There were no public speakers.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

There were no confidential or exempt items.

This report sets out recommendations for sites to be allocated for development through the new local plan for/at the settlements of:

·        Sidmouth

·        Sidbury

·        Newton Poppleford

The committee considered the proposed site allocations for Sidmouth and surrounding areas, as set out in these minutes

Sidm_17 Peak Coach House, Cotmaton Road & The Belvedere, Peak Hill Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 8
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Councillor Helen Parr proposed to move on, seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Sidm_12 The Hams, Fortescue Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 62
Recommendation: Not to allocate

A statement was read out on behalf of Ward Member Councillor John Loudoun, who did not support the site allocation.

The Chair proposed to move on.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Sidm_13 Land adjoining Fortescue Road
Proposal: Housing/mixed
Number of dwellings: 43 plus hotel
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Richard Eley, the landowner spoke in support of the allocation and expressed disappointment with the altered version of the proposal which had been done without  consent and suggested that committee defer this site allocation to the next meeting so that members can view the correct evidence and to consider the options available.

The Assistant Director Strategic Planning and Development Management explained that officers assessment had only included the parts of Mr Eley’s site that were to be developed.  Further proposals for recreation and wildlife areas did not need to be allocated in the plan and could not be reasonably secured and so could not be considered through the Local Plan allocations process.

Committee considered the advice given.

A statement was read out on behalf of Ward Member, Councillor John Loudoun, who did not support the site allocation.

Councillor Ben Ingham proposed to move on seconded by Councillor Helen Parr.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Sidm_14 Land adjacent to Stevens Cross Close (east side), Sidford
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 12
Recommendation: Not to allocate

A short statement was read out by Ward Member Councillor John Loudoun who did not support the site allocation.

The Chair proposed to move on.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Sidm_29 Land at Two Bridges, Sidford
Proposal: 1.63 ha employment land
Recommendation: Allocate

Councillor Lockyear, representing Sidmouth Town Council spoke in objection of the site as there was no clear need for this additional employment land which would affect the Green Wedge between Sidford and Sidbury and the access onto the A375 was unsuitable for heavy traffic.

Philip Wragg, representing the Sid Vale Association spoke in objection as there was no evidence to demonstrate the need for more employment land, the impact on the National Landscape and the loss of Green Wedge between Sidford and Sidbury.

Committee considered advice about the need for employment land in the district which had been identified in the up-to-date Economic Needs Assessment.

Paul Sheldon-Matthews objected as it would create misery for residents in Sidford, Sidbury and parts of Sidmouth and should be located close to existing infrastructure, namely Exeter Airport or Skypark.

A statement was read out by Ward Member Councillor John Loudoun who did not support the site allocation.

Councillor Paul Hayward proposed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 148.

Sidm_34 Land between Furzehill and Hillside, Sidbury
Proposal: Mixed use
Number of dwellings: 38 plus 0.15ha employment land
Recommendation: Allocate Sidm_34a; Not to allocate Sidm_34b

Neil Robinson spoke in objection to the allocation as the land is fairly steep which would have an adverse impact on water runoff, serious flooding on the A375 along Burnt Oak and inadequate access proposed for the allocation.

Philip Wragg representing the Sid Vale Association also spoke in objection as it would be a loss of agricultural land and Designated Landscape which would a negative impact on biodiversity.

Dan Yeates representing the landowner advised committee that 34a and 34b should be delivered as a whole site to benefit the delivery of the secure footpath and which could easily accommodate 50 homes to include open space and biodiversity net gains.

A statement was read out on behalf of the Ward Member, Councillor John Loudoun who did not support the site allocation for either Sidm_34a and Sidm_35b.

Inclusion for allocation was proposed by Councillor Ben Ingham and seconded by Councillor Kevin Blakey for Sidm_34a

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Sidm_34a in the site allocation.

Councillor Ben Ingham proposed to move on to the next site for Sidm_34b, seconded by Councillor Kevin Blakey.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Newt_01 Goosemoor Farm, Exeter Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 119
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Newt_02 Littledown Farm, Littledown Lane
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 21
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Newt_04 Land to the west of Badger Close, Exmouth Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings:
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Newt_05 Land to the east of Exmouth Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 27
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Newt_13 Land off Down Close
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 11
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Newt_14 Seniors Farm Yard
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 5
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The committee were reminded about the pinch point between the junction between Exmouth Road and the A3052 which did not have any pavements of footpath which would make it difficult to link an access to the east of the village.

A proposal was received from Councillor Ben Ingham, seconded by Councillor Mike Howe to move on from all the site allocations in Newton Poppleford.

Committee agreed to move on from all the site allocations in Newton Poppleford.

This report sets out recommendations for sites to be allocated for development through the new local plan for/at the settlements of:

·        Seaton

·        Colyton

·        Beer

·        Branscombe

·        Uplyme

The committee considered the proposed site allocations for Seaton and surrounding areas, as set out in these minutes

Seat_01 Clay Common
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 50
Recommendation: Not to allocate

David Morgan spoke in objection citing reasons of the impact to the skyline and topography of Seaton and its location to the Beer Quarry Caves which is a protected areas for bats. 

Iestyn John, the agent for the landowner advised it was an opportunity site to deliver housing, which was less constrained than some of the other sites proposed.

Ward Member, Councillor Marcus Hartnell objected to the site allocation.

Councillor Dan Ledger, proposed to move on to the next site allocation, seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Councillor Dan Ledger left the room for the following site allocation and did not take part in discussions or the vote.

Seat_02 Land at Barnards Hill Lane
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 40
Recommendation: Allocate

Richard Ayre from Baker Estates was keen to continue delivering homes for the town as it needs more housing, investment and growth and supports the officer site assessments.

Ward Member, Councillor Marcus Hartnell spoke against the site allocation on the grounds of flood risk and the drainage infrastructure in Seaton being at capacity.

Inclusion for allocation was proposed by Councillor Paul Hayward and seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham.

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Seat_02 in the site allocation

Seat_03 Land to the South of Harepath Hill
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 75
Recommendation: Allocate

Tony Smith objected to the site allocation citing ecology reasons.

Richard Ayre from Baker Estates advised the allocation of the land would benefit the community by the long awaited sports pitch being part of the proposal in Seat_03 and Seat_05.

Ward Member, Councillor Marcus Hartnell raised concerns about flooding and the drainage infrastructure but could see merit in some development in Seat_03 and Seat_05 but taken together.

Inclusion for allocation was proposed by Councillor Dan Ledger and seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham.

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Seat_03 in the site allocation.

Seat_05 Land off Harepath Road
Proposal: Mixed use
Number of dwellings: 130 dwellings and 2.2 ha employment land
Recommendation: Allocate

Diane Smith objected to the site allocation as it would encroach on the Green Wedge between Seaton and Colyford and would have an adverse impact on the ecology of the wetlands resulting in further flooding.

Peter Mason objected to the site allocation as he felt further development could not be justified as it was important to maintain the coalescence between Seaton and Colyford.

Richard Ayre advised committee the site allocation would provide a mix of uses contributing to the social and economic wellbeing of the town.

Ward Member, Councillor Marcus Hartnell raised concerns about flooding and the drainage infrastructure but could see merit in some development in Seat_03 and Seat_05 but taken together.

Inclusion for allocation was proposed by Councillor Ben Ingham and seconded by Councillor Olly Davey.

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Seat_05 in the site allocation.

Seat_08 Land between Churston Rise and Couchill  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

Coly_02 Land at Hillhead

Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 49
Recommendation: Coly_02a Allocate & Coly_02b Allocate

Richard Ayre objected to the site allocating expressing his view that Coly_03 would be more suitable

Councillor Alison Stenning representing Colyton Parish Council objected to the site allocation as it would destroy the natural setting of Colyton as both sites are above the town and will be widely visible.

Ward Member, Councillor Paul Arnott, supported the site allocation Coly_02a and could not support Coly_02b and it had a single track road which was not appropriate for more houses.

Inclusion for allocation on Coly_02a was proposed by Councillor Paul Hayward, seconded by Councillor Dan Ledger.

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Coly_02a in the site allocation.

Councillor Paul Hayward proposed to move on to the next site allocation for Coly_02b, seconded by Councillor Dan Ledger.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Coly_03 Land adjacent to Fair View Lane

Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 97
Recommendation: Not to allocate

Committee sought clarification about the landscape issues and whether there was merit in reducing the size of the site.  Committee were advised that as the land was landscape sensitive officers were of the view reducing the size would not alter the sensitivity. 

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Coly_06 Land to the south and east of Colyton (adjacent to Peace Memorial Playing Fields, Coly Road)

Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 12
Recommendation: Allocate Coly_06a & Coly_06b Not to Allocate

Councillor Alison Stenning, representing Colyton Parish Council supported the site allocation and that it should be used to build a new primary school to support the increasing number of houses proposed in Colyton.

Ward Member, Councillor Paul Arnott strongly supported the comments by Councillor Stenning.

The Committee were advised that Devon County Council as the statutory consultee had advised the primary school had capacity and had not submitted any comments to say it should be kept for a primary school.

Councillor Helen Parr proposed to move on from Coly_06a to the next site allocation, seconded by Councillor Paul Hayward.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Councillor Helen Parr proposed to move on from Coly_06b to the next site allocation, seconded by Councillor Paul Hayward.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Beer_01 Part South Down Farm, Common Hill
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 130
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Beer_03 Land at Quarry Lane
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 35
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Bran_01 Land to the west of Cott Mead, north side of the road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 10
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Bran_02 Field forming part of Cotte Barton Farm
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 21
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Uply_01 Land at Sidmouth Road
Proposal: Housing
Number of dwellings: 92
Recommendation: Not to allocate

The Chair proposed to move on to the next site allocation.

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation.

Members considered the report that set out the proposed responses to the government consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.

A query was raised about Q7 and the protection provided by the 4-year housing land requirement established by the December version of the NPPF.  The committee were reminded about the need to bolster the council’s housing land supply to enable the Local Plan to be found sound and Members were advised that the proposed response highlights the council’s housing land supply issues which would allow the council to move to a better position.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed consultation responses included within this report be agreed and submitted as the Council’s responses to the consultation.