Earlier this year, we posted how Aggregate Industries proposed a new asphalt plant at Hillhead, how planning application DCC/4189/2020 sought to build a 24m high asphalt plant with a 27m high exhaust stack at an elevated position of 141m AOD. The plant and exhaust stack would be visible for miles around; 27m is more than the combined height of 6 double decker buses.
Here’s the predicted Zone of Significant Visibility; brown denotes areas of High Visibility.
Devon County Council’s Landscape Officer has now concluded that the application is "contrary to relevant landscape policies" providing "grounds for refusal":
The proposed asphalt building, stack and plume of emissions together with the lighting and noise emissions from 24-hour operation are likely to erode the tranquillity and distinctive rural agricultural character of the Lower rolling farmed and settled valley slopes (LCT3B) of the Culm Valley Lowlands (DCA). The proposed taller elements would interrupt the undeveloped skyline in many rural views, introducing an incongruous industrial element that would extend the visual influence of modern development at the site to a far greater area than is the case with the existing development. The nature and operation of the proposed development would not enhance or complement the character of the area and would detract from the quality of rural views enjoyed by a considerable number of people in the area as indicated by the ‘Zones of Significant Visibility’ in the LVIA… I therefore consider that the proposals would have a significant and adverse effect on the special qualities, distinctive characteristics of the landscape, and visual impacts could not be mitigated to acceptable levels within a reasonable period, therefore contrary to Policy M18 of the Devon Minerals Plan.
