The Joint Local Plan for Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon Local Authorities is primarily about setting housing numbers and locations for the next 20 years. However it also addresses the need to protect the special and unique environment that residents and visitors enjoy alike.
In the plan they state:
“The South Devon … Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty… are given the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. Great weight will therefore be given to conserving the landscape and scenic beauty of these designations and their settings.”
“The distinctive landscapes of the Undeveloped Coast will be protected and enhanced, particularly within the South Devon Heritage Coast, with support for improvements to public access to and enjoyment of the coast.”
and it goes on to say:
“Development which would have a detrimental effect on the undeveloped and unspoilt character, appearance or tranquility of the Undeveloped Coast, estuaries, and the Heritage Coast will not be permitted except under exceptional circumstances.”
http://plymouth.objective.co.
The Save Bantham Coalition, with your help, will do it’s utmost to ensure that the owners excessive development proposals are stopped or severely restricted on these grounds.
Please write to YOUR local Councillor for South Hams, West Devon, or Plymouth, to voice your support for this part of the Joint Local Plan and your objection to the proposed developments at Bantham
This sounds fine in theory but is being completely ignored by South Hams council. Only last week they let the developers at Sherford off the planning controls that had been imposed upon them and then, in the afternoon, they passed two developments for Holbeton, a tiny village of 187 houses. The developers now have outline planning permission to build 25 houses in an AONB and conservation area. The badgers and nine varieties of bat were given no protection at all. The council tell you that there is some sort of planning loophole at the moment which means developers can get plans through which are wholly inappropriate. It might also have something to do with the fact the council is paid by the government for each new house it builds. They are not supposed to take this into account………………but it forms part of a planning officer’s report. Its not just hands off Bantham – it should be hands off the AONB especially when there are so many second homes here that are rarely used. If we used the housing stock we have and did not allow it to remain empty, at least we would use our resources more effectively.
Good point Julie
If there is going to be some action, please let me know
Sure Lindsay, if you follow us on Facebook and have signed up on this site, we will let you know if/when action is needed