Issue - meetings

Local Development Order

Meeting: 15/07/2020 - Development Management Committee (Item 117)

117 District Local Development Order pdf icon PDF 549 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report presented to Committee sought Members approval for the adoption of the District Local Development Order to enable the delivery of the District Heating Network in West End of East Devon and outlined on the map attached to the report.

 

The Development Manager advised the purpose of the Local Development Order was to allow permitted development rights for underground pipes and cables and some minor above ground works to take place without the need to go through the planning process which would help speed up the process for infrastructure to be put in place to allow the transition to a low carbon or zero carbon energy in the future.

 

Councillor Rixson raised concerns that future development should be providing energy efficient homes using renewable energies such as solar power and battery or heat pumps. Councillor Rixson also emphasised that until a date had been confirmed for the transition the scheme would only guarantee income to one of the major energy providers which was condemning future residents to higher fuel bills.  In response the Development Manager confirmed that the method through which the existing Energy Centre at Cranbrook would generate its energy going forward would be a matter put forward to Members at Cabinet and was not part of the consideration of this report.

 

Points raised during discussion included:

·         Members were supportive of the District Local Development Order.

·         Clarification sought on the protection of the trees.  In response the Development Manager confirmed the Development Management Team and Enforcement Officers would be taking action if conditions were not being complied with.

·         The District Heating system was a much preferred way of going forward.

·         Steps were being taken in the right direction.

·         There were no policies in place to allow the build of carbon neutral houses.

·         Hopefully in the not too distance future the facility at Cranbrook would be switched over to low carbon and it has been a long time coming.

·         As a recipient of district heating Councillor Bloxham disagreed with Councillor Rixson’s comments about higher fuel bills.

 

RESOLVED:

That the District Heating Local Development Order be adopted.


Meeting: 15/07/2020 - Planning Committee (Item 117)

117 District Local Development Order pdf icon PDF 549 KB

Additional documents: