Developer Alan Christie presented plans for the expansion of Deer Park in Stoke Fleming, following its purchase by Discovery Two Ltd in April 2017. He explained, at a public meeting at the village hall on Wednesday, January 24, that the parent company, Development Discovery Ltd.,works with partners to teach them how to create property developments and Deer Park was chosen as a site for this.

To approximately 30 residents of Stoke Fleming, including residents of the caravan park not included in the development, Mr Christie said: “We’re here to get your ideas and, if we can, incorporate them into our development. We’re here to transform something that is a bit of an eyesore as you enter the village.

“We’re a business, and are here to make money but to do it ethically. We want to be the best bad neighbour you can have. We realise that most of you would rather this development didn’t happen, but it is inevitable.

“I would be within my rights to build the scheme as per the existing planning consent already granted, but along with our architects, north Devon based Fearnley Lott, we sat down with the planners with a desire to produce something better. That is what we think we have achieved and will submit to the planners with their support.

“It will increase the amount of community project funding that we are required to fund from £30,000 to something materially higher and, while the council will impose constraints upon the spending of these funds, they will be for the community and to spend close to the development.

“The new building will sit lower in the landscape than the consented scheme, something that South Hams Council were eager to achieve. It will still be a modern building clad with what looks like render and hanging slate but we will achieve that look by less traditional means. It will be squatter and less visible from the road.”

Several residents questioned the plans and talked of meaningful revisions. Mr Christie said that while he would listen and look at the suggestions, that revisions that were costly were unlikely to be acceptable and that he was willing to produce a building that met the old planning permission, if the revisions proposed were not acceptable.

There was a frank discussion about the impact of the building work on nearby houses. Mr Christie said that there will be demolition, construction, lorries, dust and noise beginning, if on schedule, in May and lasting for a year. Everything would be done to keep the noise and the dust to a minimum using water sprays and limiting work to daylight hours, but it will not eliminate it.

Questioned about residents having difficulty particularly leaving the site due to a tall hedge, Mr Christie said:” Our interests are aligned. We have to sell the flats and access is required. The verge (on which the hedge sits) was sold without any consideration of the problem it might create. It would suit us if that big hedge was not there at all but it is not owned by us.

“It would be a lot cheaper to get the hedge cut down and the wire fence behind it moved back towards the house but it is not in our control.

“The plans we have are compliant with the land we own; the rights we have and the planning laws.”

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Mr Christie intends to file the modified planning permission next week and hopes to be able to proceed some 13 weeks later.