Exmouth

Interesting times...  nearly ten years of work evaluating our Littleham housing site in Exmouth it was dismissed at the stroke of Cllr Mike Allen's pen on 11th October as unsuitable!  It was recognised by professional urban planners as THE most sustainable site in Exmouth for up to 500 homes.  No evidence presented other than councillors didn't like it!  Planning officers, consultants and Estate property team amazed at the cavalier approach.  But then, a counter proposal by the Town Council for 190 dwellings on a sub set of our site...

In two weeks we developed our response which is called Plumb Park - 350 houses on a site slightly larger than the Town Council's allowing lower density, much better landscaping, much more affordable housing and infrastructure...  yet this too rejected on 25th October and 190 confirmed on 1st November.  A lot of grandstanding which we found frankly inappropriate when you consider this is people's homes being talked about.  Over 3,000 on housing waiting list - we wonder what is behind all this...

There comes a point when you say OK lets now go into battle for what we believe in.  This is what we are doing.  We want to build a community not a high density housing estate.  See www.clintondevon.com for more details of our proposals.  Podcast will be launched in next 24 hours - details will be here.

On a brighter note the development at Liverton is proceeding well, despite the bad weather.  The fact we have started work has begun to attract a number of high profile tenants.  We hope to sign one or two heads of terms in coming weeks.  It is all VERY exciting and such a contrast to the comedy show over the LDF for housing...  My occasional trips to London and elsewhere on non executive business are a welcome relief and safety valve...   If we are to help unlock Exmouth and take on tenants such as Stage Coach and Jewsons they had better hurry up as we may not have room for them the way interest is taking off for LBP2.  Our emerging thoughts for LBP3 are including quality office use...  we await and see what the Town thinks...