Issue - meetings

Otry_01 Barrack Farm

Proposed use: Housing

Number of dwellings: 469

Officer recommendation: Allocate Otry_01b 70 dwellings and 1.25ha employment land

Cllr Grainger from Ottery St Mary Town Council spoke on the potential of the site, but balanced that with the impacts of development on the area. If the site went forward, he commented that this would be sufficient for the town requirement.

Ward Member Cllr Johns objected to the site, stating reasons of the lack of secondary school places, impact on the green wedge, and the scales of housing was too large for the town to accommodate after already rapid growth.

Ward Member Cllr Faithfull reminded the committee of the green wedge designation in the town’s neighbourhood plan. If developed, this would lead to isolated residents with limited public transport access, as well as an adverse impact visually in the area.

Committee debated the balance of housing need across the sites proposed for the town, including the scale of Otry_01a being too large and too rapid growth for the current and planned infrastructure.

A proposal to move on for Otry_01a, and include for allocation Otry_01b was made by Cllr B Collins, seconded by Cllr Ingham

Committee agreed to move on to the next site allocation in consideration of Otry_01a.

Committee endorsed the recommendation to include Otry_01b in the site allocation.

Otry_09 Land at Thorn Farm, Exeter Road

Proposed use: Housing

Number of dwellings: 90

Officer recommendation: Allocate

Cllr Grainger from Ottery St Mary Town Council advised of the urgent need for school places, and concerns of the site’s proximity to Cadhay.  The site should not be allocated for housing, but for a school.

Ward Member Cllr Johns objected to the site on grounds of the lack of school places, asking that the site in full be allocated only for educational use.

Ward Member Cllr Faithfull felt the site was too close to woodland and bog land that would be adversely impacted, and that the impact on the open countryside was unacceptable.

Officers clarified that a large proportion of the site had already been identified for education, and work was ongoing with Devon County Council (DCC) as to what form this would take.  A housing allocation on this site, owned by DCC, could help deliver the funding to deliver a school.  Less than half of the site could accommodate 90 dwellings, needing a landscape buffer between housing and education designation.

Cllr J Bailey raised concern on the risk of allocation of any of the site for housing, in case that adversely impacted on the delivery of educational facilities.

Committee discussed the educational need, requesting further clarity from DCC on their plans for the site.  The Chair proposed that the policy wording should be revisited following input from DCC, to express the intention for the development of educational facilities as a priority, with a housing element as a secondary requirement.

Committee recommended to include Otry_09 in the site allocation with the intention of the development of educational facilities as a priority,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176