Decision to approve major 130-homes scheme in Seaton under review

EDDC reviewing decision

A decision by East Devon planners that led to a major proposed development in Seaton being narrowly approved has been put under review.

East Devon District Council’s planning committee debated the scheme, submitted by Baker Estates, for two hours following which a vote led to a six-six split between members wishing to approve it and those wanting to reject it.

One of the councillors voted against it was committee chair Cllr Olly Davey (Green, Exmouth Town), but he subsequently changed his vote after planning officers queried the strength of his objections.

Cllr Davey’s switch meant the proposed development was passed by the committee with seven votes in favour and five against.

The council’s planning solicitor, Damian Hunter, was present at the meeting and appeared to endorse Cllr Davey’s actions.

While the chair does have the casting vote, the council is now investigating whether the change of vote has been done correctly.

“East Devon District Council is aware that concerns have been raised regarding a decision made at [the] planning committee on 25 February,” a spokesperson for the council said.

“The monitoring officer is reviewing the decision-making process. The council cannot make further comment until that review has taken place.”

Cllr Davey was contacted, but said he can’t comment while the review is under way.

The Seaton plans are at outline stage, meaning even if the approval holds, a more detailed application would still need to be submitted and passed before any homes are built. It also means the number of homes could be lower than 130, but not more.

But residents attending the meeting (Tuesday 27 February) were vocal in oppositing the plans, while Seaton Town Council noted that three previous proposals for the site had been refused in the past decade, with one appeal dismissed by the planning inspectorate.

A total of 264 objections have been lodged against the plans, with concerns including the proposed access, the potential impact on nearby Beer Quarry Caves and Seaton Wetlands, flood risk, pressure on public services and misgivings about the amount of affordable housing pledged, which will be 25 per cent of the development.

Cllr Davey had cited various reasons for his initial decision to vote for refusal, but planning officer Wendy Ormsby analysed all of them and questioned whether they were strong enough or valid.

Ms Ormsby said that while some of Cllr Davey’s reasons made sense, the council’s emerging local plan contradicted them.

“You would struggle to argue against this scheme based on the loss of the green wedge [which separates Seaton from neighbouring Colyford] because the emerging local plan proposes moving the boundary of the green wedge to the northern boundary of this [proposed] development,” she said.

Ms Ormsby acknowledged one policy in the emerging local plan with which the scheme was not fully compliant. However, she said the committee would need to identify the harm arising from that.

“It seems like you’re telling me I haven’t got a leg to stand on,” Cllr Davey said after Ms Ormsby’s assessment.

Committee member Cllr Eileen Wragg (Liberal Democrat, Exmouth Town) was shocked by the switch in vote.

“I have never, in nearly 30 years on planning committees, encountered anything like this before,” she said.

“Once the vote is taken, it’s final.”