Seaton Regeneration Area Plan :: Planning Support Statement
Summary and Conclusions
6.1 The application by Liatris Holdings is for a land area of approximately 79% of the Seaton Regeneration Site which is allocated for mixed use development by Policy LSE2 of the East Devon District Local Plan.
6.2 The application itself is in outline form and seeks approval for a land use master plan which allocates areas of the site for various forms of development. The application carries out an Environmental Impact Assessment of the impact not only of development of the application site but also the cumulative impact of the entirety of the development of the Seaton Regeneration Site.
6.3 The development of the Regeneration Site as a whole will yield the following: -
- Approximately 500 houses
- Public open space
- New retail facilities in the form of a convenience goods store (plus cafeteria); a non-food and small-scale retailing/food and drink operation
- The provision of new car parking facilities
- Provision of a new square with pedestrian links to the town centre
- Financial contributions towards the proposed Council Visitor Centre
- Provision of land and financial contributions towards the Council’s proposed wetland nature reserve scheme
- New pedestrian links through the site
- Vehicular access into the development site from Harbour Road and into the existing car park from the Underfleet
- The provision of a new surface water drainage system that will raise site levels by up to 2 metres with new flood channels and flood capacity
- An ‘activity hub’ in the south eastern corner of the site (including the boatyard area) that may include food and drink uses, car parking, an hotel and residential
- A mixed use building in the corner of Harbour Road/Underfleet
- The ability for Seaton Tramway to operate within the proposed development
- The provision of a SUSTRANs terminus
- A new community facility.
6.4 In general, the development will significantly aid the regeneration of Seaton’s economic and tourism base.
6.5 The application site itself, being somewhat smaller than the regeneration site, will provide for the majority of the development set out above including land for approximately 385 of the 500 dwellings overall capacity.
6.6 In association with the development it is anticipated that a Section 106 Agreement will be entered into that will include provisions for contributions to be made to improve local facilities such as schools, health facilities and open space that are directly related to the new development. There will also be provision for affordable housing.
6.7 The evolution of the proposals has taken account of the Council’s Development Brief for the site and a public consultation exercise. The retail and housing elements of the proposals have the commercial commitment of national retailers and a major house building company who are keen to implement the development once it is permitted.
6.8 Given the proposals within the application are in accordance with the relevant development plan policy and also comply with national policy advice, the application should be supported. It is also important that the development shown on the land use master plan is deliverable and reflects the in principle allocation of the site within the Local Plan.
6.9 The application seeks the approval for the disposition of land uses, means of access and scale of development within the ‘red line’ site controlled by Liatris Holdings and the Council. Details of the eventual design and other aspects of the development are not sought at this stage however the applicant is willing to have the relevant contents of the ‘design and access’ statement taken into account in the submission of reserved matters and also importantly to have the land use master plan approved so that the future siting of buildings has to be in accordance with the land use master plan.
