Coastal residents hit back over mooted planning ban

Residents from part of a seaside Devon town have hit back over proposals that could prevent any building work on their homes.

A so-called coastal change management area, or CCMA, has been suggested for parts of Sidmouth within a major East Devon-wide plan that seeks to map out development in the district for almost two decades.
The CCMA, which would aim to limit development in areas deemed to be at significant risk of coastal erosion, would mean that proposals for new residential development, including the conversion of existing buildings, would not be permitted.
However, the mooted CCMA, included in East Devon District Council’s draft local plan, has faced vocal opposition from residents in a public consultation as well as at a meeting of the strategic planning committee overseeing the strategy.
In the public consultation, there was “strong opposition” from residents and landowners in Sidmouth, particularly Cliff Road, who argued the CCMA was based on flawed and inconsistent erosion data.
“Many claim the policy infringes on property rights and could lead to blight, reduced property values, and difficulty selling homes,” a report prepared for councillors stated.
There were also concerns that the policy does not account for the forthcoming £21 million beach management scheme, which is expected to reduce erosion risk.
At the strategic planning committee this week, Paul Griew, a Cliff Road resident who actually lost an entire summerhouse in 2017 when it tumbled into the sea, said he thought the policy should be dropped.
Mr Griew, who is part of the Cliff Road Action Group, said there were 15 houses in the proposed CCMA, which he added “purports to show the area East Devon believes will be eroded in the next 100 years”.
“I wish to suggest the policy should be dropped for two reasons,” he said.
“First, there is little evidence to show how this area has been arrived at as the original draft local plan showed the CCMA covering 40 houses, but this is reduced to the present 15 houses because of objections received, not for any scientific analysis of erosion.
“Secondly, the policy doesn’t appear to benefit any local purpose.”
Mr Griew suggested two amendments, including that residents should be allowed to extend their existing homes at their own risk and subject to planning permission being granted.
He also said the beach management plan, aimed at reducing erosion at East Cliffs once completed in 2027, should mean the CCMA is no longer needed at that point.
“The reduced rate of erosion will mean that no property is at risk in the 100-year timescale, thus eliminating the need for a CCMA,” he added.
Tony Birch, a retired civil engineer who also worked with the Environment Agency on flood-related issues and hazard mapping, said a key issue for him was that the proposed CCMA was “not based on any erosion data that is in the [council’s] evidence library” or in the public domain.
“So the CCMA is not justifiable or sound,” he said.
“It may not be compliant as the erosion data hasn’t been published.”
He added that he had been told he would need to ask East Devon’s consultants for the data he required, which he felt proved the council had not published it.
Mr Birch suggested the CCMA be reviewed.
Ed Freeman, assistant director for planning strategy and development management at East Devon District Council, said he had made a note of the comments, and would see what he could do to address the concerns and make more information available.
The strategic planning committee agreed that a report would be brought back to its next meeting in September with a review of the CCMA policy.