ANOTHER new planning application, this time seeking permission to erect a new C2 use dwelling to part of the existing car park area at the former doctors’ surgery at Newcombes in Crediton, has been submitted to Mid Devon District Council by Mr Jeff Jenner of Blockworks Group Ltd, Worcester.

The application proposes the erection of a two storey dwelling and reconfiguration of the existing car park (with the loss of seven parking spaces).

The proposal maintains parking areas associated with the consented change of use of the existing bungalow and the consented change of use and extension of the existing main surgery building.

Car parking spaces will be reduced to the main surgery, but are in accordance with Mid Devon District Council parking standards.

The existing access to Newcombes is to be retained and unaltered and the proposal of use does not affect existing transport or access arrangements.

The site offers private amenity to the rear (North East) and parking for two vehicles immediately alongside.

The frontage of the proposed dwelling is set back slightly from the existing buildings on the site.

The existing surgery building has informed the proposed architectural language and eaves heights are also similar to the frontage of the main surgery. Materials would further echo the existing buildings on site.

There will be visual impact on the surrounding buildings as the ridge of the proposed dwelling is 375mm higher than the ridge of the adjacent surgery building, but some 3,600mm lower than the octagonal feature.

The building is likely to be higher than the Clifford Gardens flats where the ground is lower.

Elderly and vulnerable residents living in Clifford Gardens are very concerned that the proposed building, which will be right in front of their homes, is likely to block light and make it very dark inside their flats.

They told the “Courier”: “There aren’t any children here at the moment but we have been informed that it won’t be young children but older teenagers who will have issues - the same as in the Exeter Children’s Home run by the same company. We don’t need any trouble.

“The old surgery building has been converted into four luxury homes for private sale. The Hillbank unit is currently being let.

“We have had so much noise and bad language from some of the builders over the last year we don’t need any more building - we just want some peace and quiet now.”

A resident in the Newcombes area, Steve Howells said: “Faced with significant concern from the local community, Crediton Town Council objected to the previous application for no less than four separate children’s homes.

“After months of delay waiting for information from the developer which never materialised, and a change in planning officer, the application was cynically brought before Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) during the Christmas and New Year festivities in an attempt to clear the planning backlog. 

“The  application was unanimously rubber-stamped by all including our own Lawrence Ward Liberal Democrat councillor, Frank Letch. 

“We now have yet another application from the same developer to build a further children’s home from scratch on the very same site!”

Christopher Ford, a resident living next to the site said: “Once again the planning department is being drip fed with applications on an ad hoc whim by the developer.

“The first application on this site, for the bungalow, went through without the local council being aware.

“There was very little information available by the applicant that was to be considered by the planning committee, but it went through with very little scrutiny.

“If a decision is made to grant this application without further enquiries then quite frankly it would be a disgrace.”

Any residents wishing to comment on application 23/00273/FULL can do so in writing to: Head of Planning and Regeneration, Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, EX16 6PP or via the online planning portal at: www.middevon.gov.uk/do-it-online/planning .

Nora Parminter