Two Exmouth planning applications have highlighted concerns about living space for town centre residents.

The issue has arisen after plans to create flats at 6 St Andrews Road were rejected by district planners, while a scheme to create three flats at 15 Woodville Road has been opposed by Exmouth Town Council.

The St Andrews Road scheme was to create four flats inside the property, after a previous plan to create five flats had been rejected.

Although planning officers at East Devon District Council recommended approving the revised scheme, councillors felt the plan was still not suitable.

The scheme in Woodville Road, which will be ruled on by EDDC at a later date, was opposed by town councillors on the grounds of overdevelopment, lack of parking, flood risk, noise, lack of public amenity, bin and cycle storage not identified on the plan, and detriment to the character of the area.

Following these applications, town, district and county councillor Eileen Wragg has renewed calls for a minimum space living requirement in the new East Devon Local Plan.

This would specify a minimum living space for flats in subdivided properties.

Councillor Wragg told town planning members: “I think [in the Woodville Road application] you’ve got a room in the roof as an extra flat. I think it’s entirely unacceptable.

“I’m very concerned about standards for minimum living space requirements. This town council has asked that be included in the local plan. That’s not been done, and although we’re quite a long way down the line with the local plan I would ask this committee to make such a representation.”

The town council has now written to EDDC asking for a minimum space requirement to be in the local plan.