A blueprint for development in the Sid Valley is set to be given the final seal of approval next week.

After more than 90 per cent of residents voted in favour of the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan at a referendum, East Devon District Council's cabinet next week will officially make the plan so it will become a legal planning document to help shape any development in the area for the next decade.

The plan says there will be a presumption against any built any development proposal within the 'Green Wedges' and calls for the protection of open spaces such as parks, the Byes, the Knowle, Connaught Gardens and the beach.

It also includes a policy that any new open market housing, excluding replacement dwellings, will only be supported when it is restricted to being used as a Principal Residence and not as a 'second home'.

Ahead of the official adoption of the plan, the Local Democracy Reporting Service takes a look at eight existing developments and proposals that are taking place in the Sid Valley that will change the shape of how the area looks.

Sidmouth seafront

There is a multi-million beach management plan to protect Sidmouth's cliffs from collapsing.

The preferred beach management scheme consists of adding a new rock groyne on East Beach, importing new shingle onto Sidmouth Beach, and East Beach, and controversially raising the existing splash wall to one metre above the promenade to contain wave overtopping.

The scheme aims to maintain the 1990's Sidmouth Coastal Defence Scheme Standard of Service and reduce the rate of beach and cliff erosion to the east of the River Sid.

The plans would not stop cliff falls but would reduce the erosion from the toe of the cliffs, which would reduce the erosion rates.

Costs for construction of the scheme are estimated at £8.9million, but there is a funding gap of around £1.5m that urgently needs to be filled.

A deadline of August 2020 has been agreed to source the outstanding finance, as after which time, an alternative plan, involving only the town frontage, would be worked up and submitted for funding approval.

Members of the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme Steering Group met in August 2019 and there was almost unanimous agreement – bar two abstentions – to implement the preferred option, subject to £1.5m of partnership funding being secured.

Design details of the raised splash wall, which a number of representatives expressed concern over the height, will be the subject of further work involving the steering group and future consultations, and the council currently anticipates that the wall will need to be at one metre above the promenade to contain wave overtopping.

Councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon's Environment Portfolio Holder, said: "The protection of the seafront of Sidmouth is important not only to the town, but also to Devon and nationally, as it is recognised as a jewel of a seaside resort with many fine Regency and Victorian buildings."

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's representative on the Steering Group and Cabinet member for Highways Management, added: "While I am delighted that at long last there was almost unanimous consensus to move ahead with the preferred option around the table, there is still a lot more work to be done with design and funding sources to be identified and secured before submitting the scheme to secure the much needed government finance."

He added: "From a County Council perspective, the indicated funding of up to £500,000 depends on the raising of the splash wall to maintain the Highway asset and this is one aspect of the scheme that local residents can play an important part in designing."

A deadline of August 2020 was agreed by the Steering Group in which to source the outstanding finance, after which time an alternative plan, involving only the town frontage, would be worked up and submitted for funding approval.

A finance sub-group will be reconvened to look at how funds could be raised, while the district's two MPs, Sir Hugo Swire and Neil Parish, will be contacted to see if there is any financial assistance available to help plug the £1.5m funding gap.

Drill Hall

The Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan says that any development for the Eastern End of Sidmouth around the Port Royal should reinvigorate the town and become a culturally vibrant centre for the community and visitors.

Plans have already been submitted by Rockfish to open a restaurant in the Drill Hall building, and East Devon District Council's cabinet unanimously decided to select Rockfish's bid as their preferred bid for the redevelopment and renewal of Drill Hall.

Rockfish owner Mitch Tonks is set to be spend £1m on the redevelopment of the area and the new restaurant, creating between 30 and 40 local jobs.

It could open by April or May 2020, if his planning application receives district council backing, with it still awaiting determination.

The Knowle

East Devon District Council's former headquarters at Knowle in Sidmouth is set to be converted into a 113-apartment assisted living community.

Ownership of the site will be transferred to PegasusLife, who plan to and have permission for turning the building into a 113-apartment assisted living community, for an increased sum of £9,019,605, on December 18.

The council have already moved into its new Honiton HQ, which replaces The Knowle, cost the council £8.7m, while an additional £1.5m was spent on upgrading Exmouth town hall where one third of the council staff are to be based.

A scheme to reduce flood risk to more than 100 homes and businesses to will provide protection from surface water around The Knowle area of the town is also planned by Devon County Council.

The proposals include drains across Station Road to capture surface water flows. This will discharge via a pipe to a swale, or channel, through the parkland to a storage area at the lower end which will be constructed in the form of an amphitheatre. This design will also serve as a public amenity.

Mr Hughes added: "This scheme is a win-win for Sidmouth as not only will it reduce flood risk but it will also provide a performance area for events, including the Sidmouth Folk Festival."

Alma Bridge

Work is progressing well on the scheme to develop a new footbridge to replace Alma Bridge in Sidmouth.

The 130-year-old Alma Bridge will be replaced with a new structure, 37 metres upstream from the existing bridge.

The new bridge will have a minimum life span of 40 years and needs to be installed as the existing Alma Bridge, which is in poor condition, is anticipated to be lost within the next few years due to the ongoing coastal erosion.

The popular seafront recreation ground, the Ham, has been fenced-off, while the Hanger Path, the current footpath leading up to Cliff Road has been closed, during the construction phase.

A temporary bridge is currently in place to provide unrestricted access between the contractor's compound and the working area on the east side of the river and it is expected that cliff re-profiling, rock anchoring and piling activities will be completed by Christmas, allowing the construction of the concrete abutments and foundations to commence in the new year.

Mr Hughes said: "I am sure people who have walked near this end of the seafront in the past month will have viewed the progress being made on site. The stabilisation work to the cliff face is all important and it has started well.

"It makes sense to keep the material from the re-profiling of the cliff on site by depositing it at the base of cliffs at Pennington Point. This will mimic the natural erosion process and it will be washed out to sea in the same way as material from cliff falls."

Weather permitting, the scheme is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.

Sidford Business Park

In August, planning inspector Luke Fleming allowed an appeal for an outline scheme would see 8,445sqm of employment space built on the outskirts of Sidford.

Applicants Tim and Mike Ford said their scheme would create 250 new jobs and it will see 8,445sqm of employment space built on the outskirts of the village on agricultural land east of Two Bridges Road.

There had been over 250 submitted letters of objection against the plans, with 1,400 residents signing the Say NO To Sidford Business Park Campaign petition, against the plans, that East Devon District Council had initially refused on the grounds of harm to highway safety.

But allowing the appeal, Mr Fleming said: "These are significant benefits that outweigh the effects and inconvenience of the increase in HGV traffic in the area. Thus, on balance, the appeal should therefore be allowed."

A further application for the detail of the scheme will need to be submitted and approved by East Devon District Council.

The proposal would also contribute towards a section of the Sidmouth to Sidford Cycle route and a planning application for that is being prepared by Devon County Council.

Councillor Hughes has also asked county council officers to look into introducing a weight restriction on the A375 through Sidbury to the traffic light junction at Sidford Cross.

Green Close

Construction work has begun on converting a former care home into retirement apartments.

Churchill Retirement Living's plans to revamp the closed 23-bed former Green Close care home in Drakes Avenue in Sidford were finally given the go-ahead by East Devon District Council planners in December last year, after twice rejecting similar schemes.

The sheltered apartment plans would see the care home demolished and replaced with 40 apartments, with a guest suite, owners' lounge, lift, office also be included, as would be 24 car parking spaces.

A financial contribution of £677,434 to the council towards the provision of affordable housing within the district is a condition of the application, which Churchill have agreed is acceptable.

The Green Close care home was built in 1971 but closed in 2014 after Devon County Council cutbacks.

Sidmouth College

Work has begun on the multi-million pound redevelopment of Sidmouth College.

The scheme to improve the buildings students are taught in would see the existing 1960s main building demolished and replacement with a new, three-storey building, on the edge of the existing car park. A grassed quad area would then replace the old building.

The project is being funded by the Government's Priority Schools Building Programme. The new building would be built on the edge of the existing car park and would consist of one three storey and one two storey block joined in an L shape.

A new modern science suite would be built on the top floor, while history, geography, religious education, music, a technology workshop, offices and stores, new kitchens and dining spaces for students would also be provided.

A school hall, activity/dance studio, reception area, staff room and officers would also be housed in the new building.

The current building would then be demolished and replaced with a grassed quad area.

Lidl Relocation?

Last week, global supermarket chain Lidl published a list of 20 locations in Devon where it either wishes to open or relocate its store.

Their requirements are listed as being prominent sites in town, district, edge of centre or out of town locations and ideally with main road frontage with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.

They need freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities with unit sizes flexible on design and scale between 14,000 and 26,500 square feet, with the final requirement is describes as 1.5 acre plus standalone units, or up to four acres for mixed use scheme developments by Lidl in conjunction with or acting as a developer.

The Sidmouth store is currently located in Woolbrook, but councillor Hughes has warned of the potential knock-on effects of if town's Lidl store moved out of Woolbrook because other than the Alexandria Industrial Estate or Sidford Business Park, there would be nowhere else in the area where a store could go.