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Back to the main page about the housing plans The housing debate: minutes of the meeting at the school, 19.30 - 21.00, 1 July 2010by Tim Padfield, Wednesday, 2 June 2010, checked with Bridget Green, Monday, 7 June 2010 Bridget Green (B) of SHDC responded to questions from an audience of about 70. This is a summary of important points in a long meeting. Questioners names are not given since they were not required to state their names. The dialog is not in strictly chronological order: some similar questions and comments have been combined, for clarity and brevity. Note that this is not the page for comments that were not presented at the meeting. The page for general comments is here. B explained the status of the DPD's [confirmed by a later email] including the Rural Areas Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) this is the Publication Stage with formal consultation from 30 April 2010 to 2 July 2010. This consultation includes seeking comments from organisations such as the Highways (DCC) and the Environment Agency. All representations will be considered by the Council and a summary of the key issues prepared. The Inspector will also be provided with a copy of all representations . The Council is able to make only minor changes between Publication Stage and the next Submission Stage. The Submission Stage DPD's will be submitted to the Secretary of State who will appoint an Inspector to conduct the Examination, the hearings for which are likely to be held in late autumn 2010. There will be the opportunity to speak at the Examination if you indicate this now in your representation. Q Why so many houses in one place at one time? B The South Hams local development framework core strategy rules that there shall be built 400 houses in rural areas. The Totnes area is identified as that with greatest housing need. This area includes Harbertonford. 60% of the houses will be 'affordable' being allocated by points, which include priority to locally connected people, but do not exclude needy outsiders. The remainder will sell on the open market. The sites proposed for Harbertonford are proposed for beyond 2016 when it is envisaged that numbers will be at least the same to 2026, although the sites could possibly come forward before 2016. Q The allocated area for housing covers the existing filling station. Does that mean it will be demolished? The explanation of the filling station status came from the owner, who said he had asked for the filling station to be added to the area available for housing so it could be redeveloped if it failed in its present use, but he had no intention at present of building houses on the land. Q Why has the land opposite the filling station been dropped from the plan? B A detailed study has shown that the land is unsuitable, having flooding on low ground, so that only a single row of houses could be built, which was too few to make it viable as a site for development. The originally scheduled 50 houses can still be accommodated on the remaining area of RA18. Q What precautions would be taken against flooding by rapid runoff from the houses, roads and parking areas? The field already causes intense runoff down the road and into houses (photos available). B The site would have SUD* on-site storm water retention, as required for all new housing development. Q Where will be the vehicle access points to the site [RA18]? B That has not been decided yet. A381 by the filling station, or on [Old Road]. Cul de sacs are not favoured any more, so there will be two access points, maybe one for pedestrians only. Q What about all the details about access points and footpaths promised at the February meeting which are not in this latest version? B Consultation is proceeding with various authorities, such as the highways and Environment. The results will be available for the inspector in the autumn. There will be no major changes to the present document before submission. Q Where is the evidence for all the careful consultation that B claims has been done by SHDC? B It is all on the website. Q What about the mill site [RA17]? Many of us would like it to be renovated. B SHDC has tried hard to contact the owner, without success. That is why redevelopment has been scheduled for after 2016. The council has compulsory purchase power but it is a costly process. It is not being considered in this case. Q There was a plea to put workshops in the mill building, rather than only dwellings. B On the matter of timing: house building could be brought forward to before 2016, if a developer was willing and if the allocation was not being filled in other places in the south Hams. Q What about a more gradual program of house building, so local builders could get the work, rather than a large national house builder? B Local people could certainly club together to buy land and build. The housing density however is defined by government rules, and the required 50 houses must eventually be built. Building outside the development boundary would not be allowed. Q It was pointed out that small groups of houses can include affordable homes - Youldens Close for example. Q A comment on the formulaic attitude to quality of life issues: why only 0.14ha (= 3 allotments) for allotments for all the rural area combined when Harbertonford had indicated a need for allotments at the February meeting? There is scant evidence for real consultation with the community. B The community can always go it alone, as Totnes has. The number in the document is based on an official ratio of allotments per house. [B later clarified this response by email: the 0.14 ha is the allotment shortfall for the entire South Hams] Q The school needs more children, so more houses will be good. Q Growth is not necessarily a requirement for a lively community. Q The general feeling, as interpreted by this commentator, was that the community is not against expansion but would prefer it to be more piecemeal rather than an instant estate in one spot. There was strong support for early action on the mill site. Q How do we comment; the SHDC website is really difficult to navigate? B You should use the questionnaire format comment form, either printed out and posted, or filled in on-line. A group of villagers can combine to submit a single entry. [B by email: The Council wishes to encourage the use of representations (in support or objection) using http://consult.southhams.gov.uk. Alternatively representations can be made using the electronic form available on the the Council's website. This form can also be printed and returned to Follaton House. The deadline for comments is 4 pm on 2 July 2010 at Follaton House.] {*} More about SUD: Links to relevant SHDC web pages: Index page to the planning process and how to comment on it (recommended reading, but hard work!) This page is read-only |