General Discussion

I don't know whether this is a good thing or not. On the one hand, personally it will affect (though not spoil) the view from our decking, plus the fact that new homes on this scale should surely go hand-in-hand with new infrastructure at the Warren. Mains gas would be a start! On the plus side, the development might also breathe new life into the Warren - ahead of the hoped-for regeneration scheme for the area. By the way, does anyone know when the builder is going to finally finish those two or more homes that he's been building for the last couple or so years - the ones next to Geralds, I mean? The article in the Herald Express is copied below: START Up to 61 beach hut-inspired contemporary homes could be built in Dawlish Warren if plans by Barratt Homes are approved by Teignbridge Council. The homes plan by the Exeter-based office of the home builder is set to be considered by the authority's development control committee meeting today. It has been recommended for approval despite local objections. The 2.64 hectares of land earmarked for the development is off Dawlish Warren Road and Shutterton Lane. The application is for 61 homes with 43 two, three, four and five-bed homes in the market housing bracket and 18 properties — two one-bed flats and two to four-bed homes — for social renting. The properties will be largely two storeys in height with some benefiting from rooms within roof space, lit by roof lights. There will be parking for 86 cars, a mix of visitor and allocated spaces. Tim Larner, managing director of Barratt Homes Exeter, said: "We have worked hard developing this scheme in conjunction with planning officers and in consultation with the local community, and consider that the proposals put forward are both attractive in design and sympathetic in nature to neighbouring residents. "We are pleased that the application has been recommended for approval by planning officers. "With regards to the local area, we will be making a financial contribution towards infrastructure improvements and providing essential affordable housing. "We look forward to this application being discussed next week." In a report to the development control committee, planning boss John Collier-Marsh said the site has been designed to be contemporary. He said: "The applicant was encouraged to design building types that were more contemporary in nature than many standardised house types. "The result is a mix of homes that are unified through key elements such as coloured render, contrasting render panels and weatherboarding. "The colour palette which has been submitted was chosen as representing the feel of a seaside resort, taking inspiration from the variety of colours found in beach huts. "Unlike many developments where standard house types in cream render or brick dominate, this development aims to have its own distinct identity." There are no highways objections and any impacts on landscape, trees, ecology and residential amenity can be mitigated by conditions imposed on Barratt Homes if approval is given, Mr Collier-Marsh said. Dawlish Town Council has not raised any objections. Up to 18 letters against the plan, and a petition with 64 signatories, has been submitted to the planning department by Warren residents. Concerns surround the impact on green space, the concentration of homes being 'too great', flooding, transport and traffic problems and a need for Barratt Homes to contribute to new sea defences. Objector Barbara Drake said in her letter: "There is no employment in the Dawlish Warren area so this estate will be the Exeter corridor causing even more traffic problems." Gordon McGeoch's letter said: "The proposed housing development density will be out of character with other housing in this area." In May 2009 the council approved an outline plan for a residential development, including a nursing home. The care home aspect has not been brought forward into the full application. The applicant has said that, since the outline proposal was approved, consent was granted in an unrelated plan to turn the former Peppermint Club into a care home and research has shown there is no market support for an additional unit.

Looks good to me, but overall not enough Social Housing

Are there recommended/standard guidelines re. social housing? I personally would have thought that 30% of this proposed development is a more than fair percentage. In my opinion, as long as the tenants respected their property and their neighbours, then I'd be happy if it was 100%.

Agree with you on the respect aspect, if prospective tenants were selected in a proper way see no problem. Apparently they have to serve a probation period now before they are given an assured tenancy. That didnt happen when I got mine 40+ years ago. If we could have a 100% developement it might force some of these investment landlods to release their propertys back onto the property market which at the end of the day should mean less property developements for new homes. I can dream !!!!!

The planning application has been approved. From the Herald Express: START Developers have been granted planning permission to build 61 homes inspired by the seaside after councillors backed themselves into a corner. Councillors passed plans for the contemporary homes at Dawlish Warren despite the applicants ditching plans for a much-needed nursing home, which had been part of the original scheme. Plans for the 2.64 hectare site, on land off Dawlish Warren Road and Shutterton Lane, include 43 mixed size properties for market sale and 18 properties for social renting — all inspired by beach huts. The homes will be clad in contrasting render panels and weather boarding in line with the seaside theme. Councillor Sylvia Russell said councillors had been 'swayed' by the plan for a 60-bed nursing home which the applicants eventually removed from their plans. However, Teignbridge Council leader Alan Connett chastised councillors saying they were 'in a soup of their own making'. "We gave consent for planning on that site," he said. "Last year we ignored the planning officers advice to refuse planning permission. "We are in a soup of our own making. We opened the gate so let's get that straight. We made a decision a year ago and now we are living with the consequences." Ms Russell told the committee that an officers report from May 2009 strongly recommended refusal because the site is located on open countryside. "It also said Dawlish Warren does not have the facilities such as schools and other community services to cope with a scheme of this size," she said. Councillor Jeremy Christophers said the council needed to be careful when it came to applications for nursing homes which he referred to as a 'Trojan horse'. He said: "As a committee we made that decision in good faith. We need quality information on the need before we get caught, if that's what we have been, in this situation again." Councillor Humphrey Clemens admitted he was swayed by the nursing home, but said the housing aspect had also appealed. He said: "Dawlish Warren is going to become more and more residential. It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life. We would have no grounds for appeal because we have accepted building on this site." Objector Val Mawhood spoke on behalf of local residents — 64 of whom signed a petition hoping to persuade councillors to vote against the scheme. "This is a contentious development. The roads leading to the main centre of employment are already subject to flooding," she said. "It is highly congested during the holiday season and most people who live here have to commute daily for work. "There will be 420 extra journeys per day along the already totally inadequate roads." Speaking on behalf of developers Barratt Homes, Gareth Kendall said: "We are committed to providing a scheme which we feel fits the local area and the community and will provide much-needed housing. "We have worked hard to some up with a scheme that is in line with the Vision for Teignmouth and Teignbridge as a whole." He said the company had entered into 'detailed discussions' with residents keeping them updated with news letters and inviting their feedback on the scheme.

"Speaking on behalf of developers Barratt Homes, Gareth Kendall said: "We are committed to providing a scheme which we feel fits the local area and the community and will provide much-needed housing."" Should that not read "We are committed to providing a scheme which makes as much money as possible for our company"? These big companies all give the same impression that they do these things for the good of the community, rather than they actualy do it to make as much profit for as little outlay as possible. Good old councillors giving it the go ahead. I wonder if they will be held responsible for the damages when it all floods, as did the permanent ' mobile homes' sited at Golden Sands a few years back. Some fools do not learn from history