Churchill consultation: Public response to redevelopment plans

A spot of historic relevance and agricultural importance just off Silver Street could be transformed into a multi-storey housing complex for the elderly.

That is the proposal of Churchill Retirement Living, who are in the process of preparing a planning application for the major residential development.

The plans will be submitted to East Devon District Council to first ensure that they will be accepted before they agree to buy the site.

At this present time, the land has not been sold and plans to redevelop the site in the way that Churchill has proposed have not received a nod of approval by the necessary powers.

The land constitutes a brownfield site within the town centre and current policy suggests that it should be used for employment, for example to be redeveloped into offices.

The policy also stipulates that in certain circumstances, sites with a close proximity to the town centre and with limited accessibility can be developed for alternative uses, such as residential.

Churchill held a public consultation yesterday evening (March 3) for Honiton residents to attend.

The idea has been met with some resistance from both members of the public and town councillors, however there are those in favour.

One lady who wished to remain anonymous, but lives directly opposite the site, said: "There are a group of us living close-by who really want the development to happen.

"Old people should be living in town where they can get mobility scooters and go to the shops to keep the shops going.

"They make safe neighbours and aren't likely to be causing the kind of trouble we sometimes encounter, with fights and having to call the police."

Ex Honiton Town councillor, Graham Smith said: "Honiton High Street needs to become a leisure destination, that is the way forward for town centres.

"We haven't got the big High Street brands; we need to encourage small independent shops, cafés and bars.

"This development will help make Honiton more of a leisure destination.

"Everybody needs somewhere to live; you build lots of old people's places, local older people who are thinking of downsizing can go and live close to the High Street with all the amenities within walking distance, which is great for being green, and frees up bigger properties for younger families to move into."

On the other hand many are against it.

Councillor Duncan Sheridan-Shaw said: "It is too much pressure for the local area. It's a high intensity area; lots of traffic, children, parking - which is used by tourism.

"The plans have 50+ units and they're looking to put in 25 car parking spaces. We all know that many people own more than one vehicle, and then if you factor in family members coming to visit there just the capacity there.

"It is an historic area as well - it's the Cattle Market. It is also a social area; lots of local groups, such as the running group meet there.

"It provides an essential overflow car park for local events, for example Charter Day and Gate to Plate.

"If redevelopment of the site is inevitable, then I personally would like to see it turned into more car parking space to encourage more people visiting the town."

Local Scout Leader and resident of Silver Street, Jennifer Becket said: "I think the proposed development is going to to cause extreme gridlock of traffic on Silver Street.

"We are at maximum capacity already and any more traffic is going to cause significant problems for people living in the area, and become very unsafe for children especially.

"I think it's inappropriate to be so close to the Community College and Primary School for lots of reasons.

"The premise is good, but it should be somewhere else with more viable access.

"I don't think we have the infrastructure; I don't think the Doctor's Surgery, the Hospital or the Community Nursing Teams can cope."

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