Location: DAWLISH –Innisfree, Smugglers Lane Holcombe

Proposal:  Demolition of existing building and erection of a new dwelling

Reference Ref 08/02157/FUL. 

I am writing on behalf of Holcombe Residents Association to object to the above planning application.  The Association has over 340 members in the village.

We recognise that the existing building on this site is derelict and, in many ways, are happy at the principal of its demolition and replacement.  However we have a number of concerns about the proposed development are as follows:

1.  Size of proposed dwelling.  This is considerably larger than the existing building and has three stories rather than two.  We consider that this represents over development of the site.

2.                  Stability of site.

Whilst the proposal indicates some measures to stabilise the site we have concerns about whether these are adequate.  A section of the garden below the building fell into Smuggles Lane some years ago and a reinforced wall was built there.  This section of relatively new wall can still be seen immediately below the house.  This will have been built to accommodate the existing building and may well be insufficient to take the weight of the proposed larger building.  Recent work in the adjacent development at The Gatehouse has encountered significant problems with subsidence and this must call the stability of the area generally into question, particularly for the proposed larger building.

3.                  Access to site during demolition and rebuilding.  The proposal makes no reference as to how this will be achieved.  The site presents significant access problems and how these are to be overcome needs to be clearly indicated in order to protect the sensitive coastal protection area and pedestrian and vehicular access down Smugglers Lane especially as this forms part of the South West Coast path.

4.                  Clearing up waste material caused by demolition and rebuilding.  Previous work on this site has resulted in waste material which has been left in the stream or adjacent to the road for long periods of time.  This has been an eyesore in this coastal area used by local people and tourists.  In our view the planning authority should make any approval dependent on the rapid removal of any such waste material.

For the above reasons we recommend that Teignbridge District Council reject the current application and call on the developer to bring forward plans which address the concerns indicated.  We also ask that any decision on this application be taken by the Development Control Committee after a site inspection of this unusual and sensitive site.

Yours faithfully,

John Watson, Secretary -  Holcombe Residents Association