Planning officers support flats plan

Plans to build 14 new flats in Exmouth have been recommended for approval by district planning officers, despite opposition from Exmouth Town Council.

The plan to build the flats at 14 Cyprus Road will be ruled on by East Devon district councillors next week.

Although councillors will have the final say, planning officers say in their report ahead of the meeting that the scheme should be approved.

Developers had gained approval for a care home on the site in 2010, however this scheme fell through after they were unable to find anyone to manage it.

Exmouth Town Council, which also objected to the care home, says the flats plan would be overdevelopment, would overlook neighbouring properties, would be against the avenues design statement, would be excessively high, and would put extra pressure on overstretched sewerage systems.

District councillor Tim Wood has also opposed the plan, saying that part of the reason approval was granted for the care home was because of perceived demand for such a home, which the flats would not meet.

However, district planning officers say that because the flats plan is very similar to the care home plan, it would be very difficult to object to it having previously given the care home the go ahead.

The development management committee which will rule on the application meets at EDDC’s Knowle headquarters in Sidmouth, on Tuesday at 2pm.