Since 2014 the feoffees have been trying to obtain planning permission to develop the land upon which they own eleven garages and a garden at rear, in Toronto Road, Exeter.
The first application was to demolish the garages and rebuild with six one bedroom affordable flats for the elderly and disabled. The application was subject to a great deal of necessary delay by the council and contradictory advice. There were a number of objections, most of them not valid and quite a few which contained statements which were untrue. These objections were supported by a labour ward councillor. The councillor chose not to discuss the application with the feoffees. Consequently, at the council planning meeting when permission was discussed, untrue statements were made to support rejection of the application, such as’ the development would put too much pressure on school places ‘for example, ridiculous when the flats were affordable and for the elderly and disabled. The application was refused planning permission.
Second and third applications were submitted, both for three houses with garages. In rejecting the second application a planning officer suggested putting flats on top of the garages The third application was rejected mainly on the grounds that the development would be detrimental to a lime tree in an adjacent property. The feoffees commissioned three arboriculture reports which all stated that the tree would not be compromised.
This application went to appeal and whilst the appeal was not upheld by the inspectorate (it was only refused on the appearance of the proposed front elevation) ,all the other reasons for refusal given by planning officers and the council in this and previous applications were dismissed. A revised design was submitted and planning permission was granted in November 2023. Due to delay by the council causing a large loss of the charity’s funds, it is no longer feasible for the charity to build the intended affordable housing and therefore the plot of land with planning permission is now up for sale.