Planners vote no after finely balanced argument
A plan to extend a struggling holiday business in a protected area of the South Hams has been rejected on a chairman’s casting vote.
South Hams District Council’s development management committee was evenly split over the proposal to add 10 new holiday lodges to 24 already at Briar Hill Farm, Newton Ferrers.
The applicants, Mr and Mrs S McCready, said the business make little profit because the cost of overheads are increasing faster than the site fees, and holidaymakers demanding extra facilities. In order to make it viable, they need to generate more income.
But the site, outside the village development boundary and within the undeveloped coast of South Devon, is protected by planning policies.
Councillors had to decide whether there were exceptional circumstances to grant approval.
Newton and Noss Parish Council chairman Peter Hinchcliffe said it can’t decide, as the application was finely balanced. He said the proposal would mean a rise in custom for local shops, businesses, cafes and pubs and provide two electric vehicle charging points for the village, but it would go against the neighbourhood plan.
Ward member Cllr Tom Edie (Lib Dem, Newton and Yealmpton) was of the same opinion and said he had faith in the local planning authority to make the right decision.
Councillors raised fears the lodges could be used as second homes and the owners might want to expand the business again in future. Cllr Jacqi Hodgeson (Green, Dartington and Staverton) saw no merit in the application from an architectural or sustainability point of view.
“Considering we have declared a climate and ecology emergency, there is nothing here that is outstanding other than business-as-usual. It’s not really anything beneficial in terms of carbon footprint.”
Cllr Guy Pannell (Lib Dem, South Brent) agreed: “There is no indication of any real environmental gain. I have a lot of sympathy for the applicant, but we are putting ourselves in a difficult position.
“We have supported local parish councils in their neighbourhood plans and we should hold up the strength of the neighbourhood plan in deciding what is allowed.”
Cllr Georgina Allen (Green, Totnes) said if the council regarded the business as “a local asset” and it was “sustaining its long term future” then it could be seen as compiling with policy even though it is outside the village boundary.
The applicant’s agent, Mark Evans, said the lodges would be set in a landscape with trees above them so their visibility would be minimal. New trees and shrubs would be planted, along with a large wildflower meadow and biodiversity enhancements.
He said if the proposal was not allowed, the business would continue to fail and its contribution to the local economy would be in jeopardy.
With the same amount of votes for and against the application, chairman of the committee Cllr Mark Long (Ind, Salcombe and Thurlestone) had the casting vote and decided to go with the officers’ recommendation to refuse.