Controversial homes scheme ‘regretfully’ approved

Planners have “regretfully” approved a plan for yet more homes in a East Devon village because of difficulties finding legitimate reasons to block it.

Several members of the public spoke out about the plan for up to 60 homes in the East Devon village of Feniton, and while planners sympathised with their objections, they did not feel they could block the scheme.
“Regretfully, I have to vote in support of this scheme because there isn’t anything I can refuse it on,” said Councillor Mike Howe (Independent, Clyst Valley).
Cllr Howe, a member of the East Devon District Council planning committee tasked with deciding on the scheme, encouraged Feniton’s residents to enlist the help of a qualified expert in any future planning applications.
“We can’t go against the likes of Devon County Council’s highways assessment but my community and Ottery St Mary have done it and will probably do it again,” he said.
“We need an expert opinion to counter an expert opinion then we have a leg to stand on, but without that, it can be difficult for us to counter it.”
Cllr Howe added that the county council had stated Feniton’s primary school was not full, and so even though residents claimed it was, they had to side with the education authority’s view.
Much of the public opposition to the scheme focused on the potential increased risk of flooding, the extra pressure on the sewage system, and fears about the safety of pedestrians given the extra cars this development and others that have been approved in the village would bring.
Councillor Martyn Smith, the chair of Feniton Parish Council, said the council “strongly objects” to the plans that are located on land north of Beechwood Farm off Green Lane.
He acknowledged that other recent planning approvals would mean Feniton would be taking on a significant amount of homes even though East Devon’s emerging local plan – which dictates where homes will go across the district for the next 15 years – suggested that somewhere like Feniton should only have “modest growth”.
As an example, just last year, the Planning Inspectorate approved 86 homes on Colestocks Road. Taylor Wimpey took the proposal to the government inspector because East Devon hadn’t made a decision on the scheme within the statutory timeframe.
“Feniton is going to be accommodating far more homes than required for modest growth in the local plan period [out to 2042] and presents a serious risk to community cohesion,” he said.
“Also, the sewage system is a good reason for it not to be considered, as residents have sewage backing up into their homes, with some not flushing their toilets in fear that it could back up, and on Ottery Road, it spews sewage through the manhole covers.”
Cllr Smith said the Environment Agency was investigating reports of sewage in waterways in the area.
East Devon District Council recently commissioned its own study into the area’s sewage system. 
Concerningly, its new analysis suggested four of East Devon’s 16 waste water treatment plants were already running beyond their dry weather flow capacity permit limits, and that seven – including Maer Lane in Exmouth, Feniton and Otterton – would be doing so if house building targets in East Devon are hit without any sewer infrastructure upgrades or additions.
Resident Jane Blackmore said she agreed with Cllr Smith, and that she did not understand why the site where these homes were proposed had been identified as suitable by East Devon in its emerging local plan.
“It defies comprehension and logic, and I’m annoyed that Feniton is under siege again,” she said.
“Green Lane is very narrow and inappropriate for additional traffic, and the lane separates the village from open countryside, so development will harm the character of the area.
“The lane has two humpback bridges and two vehicles can’t pass at the same time, and there’s no pavement making it an issue for children walking to school.
“Feniton cannot cope with more houses and if they are approved, the flooding issues will be exacerbated.”
Another resident, Hayley Roberts, described precarious walks to school with her children, and so feared the extra traffic the homes would bring.
“We have had to paddle through sewage, and hug the wall as cars can’t see us when they come around the blind corner,” she said.
“The bridge is only three metres wide, so when walking with my children I hold my breath every day when I know two vehicles are heading towards it in opposite directions.”
Feniton has recently had a flood alleviation scheme installed, and planning officers noted that a condition of the planning approval would be that the council had to be satisfied that the sewage system could cope with the extra homes.
Officers also added that pedestrian walkways into forthcoming neighbouring developments would provide safer routes for those travelling by foot in the village.
Matthew Kendrick, the agent for the applicant, noted that the site had been identified as one that could be suitable for development in the emerging local plan.
“Removing it would leave the plan open to challenge,” he said.
“Also, in regards to the super inquiry in Feniton [around a decade ago] the context has changed.
“We now know the housing requirement has substantially changed and the council does not have enough schemes to meet its five-year housing land supply.
“As such,it can only be refused if the adverse aspects significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.”
Mr Kendrick added the scheme would have 21 affordable homes on site and the developer would provide a “substantial contribution” towards affordable homes in other locations.
He added that the development would have attenuation on site, as well as equipment to ensure the flow of water from the site was controlled to help mitigate flooding issues.
The committee voted in favour of the scheme.