EDDC has begun a public consultation on its draft Villages Plan. This will help guide decisions on where new development should be directed in selected villages – including Musbury. The Villages Plan shows a black line ( called a Built-Up Area Boundary) around Musbury. Within the black line new houses will generally be acceptable but outside they will only be acceptable in special circumstances. Musbury has no target quota for new houses. The consultation gives you an opportunity to comment on where the lines should be drawn.
EDDC has put forward its preferred approach for Musbury. This proposes the land around Mountfield for inclusion within the black line boundary.
The Parish Council has put forward an alternative approach which would continue to exclude the land around Mountfield but would include the Village Hall and the portion of Baxters Farm previously selected by the community for potential development.
(Mountfield (house and land) is expected to go to auction following the legal processes for an Enforced Sale. The timescale is not known. As the house is listed it will need to be restored. If a developer buys the property it is likely that some ‘enabling development’ will be permitted by EDDC to help recover some of the costs of refurbishment. This is the case even with the current black line boundary being maintained around the field. The wall along the Axminster Rd is listed and the trees are protected).
You can see a summary of these two approaches here.
You can see the draft consultation Villages Plan and supporting documents online.
If you want to comment either email localplan@eastdevon.gov.uk or write to: Planning Policy, EDDC, Station Rd, Sidmouth EX10 8HL.
Please include Villages Plan and Musbury in your title. If you are referring to a specific site please include a map so that the boundaries of the land are clear.
Deadline for comments is 28 Sept 2016.
N.B. These proposals will be discussed at the next Musbury Parish Council meeting to be held 7.30 pm on 12 Sept in the Village Hall.
