Last week a planning expert from Foot Anstey highlighted some of the policies. Earlier in the year planning expert Charlie Hopkins highlighted some more:
As Charlie Hopkins concluded:
The proposed development conflicts with a number of Objectives and Policies set out in the Development Plan, namely Objectives 1 and 6, Policies M16, M17, M18, M20, M21, and M22 of the adopted Devon Minerals Plan 2011-2033.
The application is contrary to, and conflicts with a number of core principles, policies and guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
There are not sufficient material considerations in favour of the development so as to outweigh the provisions of the Development Plan.
The adverse impacts of permitting the proposed development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
Why do policies matter?
Indeed, it was a fact recognised by the Chairman of DCC’s Development Management Committee only this year when the new Minerals Plan was adopted, when he spoke not only about the "years of hard work [that] have gone into preparing and consulting on this important document", but also that "all mineral development will need to comply with the plan...".
Now it looks like DCC is wanting to forget all about policies - in order to facilitate the destruction of East Devon farmland, mayhem on Ottery's main road, and millions of miles of polluting HGV haulage.
In which case, local people will rightly wonder what all the "years of hard work" were for, if - when the first greenfield quarry application comes before it - so many of the policies contained within DCC's expensive new Minerals Plan stand for nothing.
And if the policies stand for nothing, and the Council has its own agenda, people will also question the point of responding to DCC's various consultations - like the latest one detailed below - and will most likely conclude none at all.
