Architect Matt Steart outlining the proposal to the public meeting
On Tuesday the 19th of September the Ilfracombe Community Land Trust (ICLT) held a public engagement event to present plans for social housing on the Bicclescombe Nursery site.
The event was very well attended by the public and neighbours of the site, as well as representatives from the Town Council and other bodies including Aster Housing Association. Those attending were given a presentation by the Chair of ICLT Mark Read, Steve Watson from Middlemarch CIC and the architect for the site Matt Steart. Steve Watson gave a short talk about Community Land Trusts and what they hope to achieve in building social housing for local people. Allocation of the housing for this project will be through Devon Home Choice and follows a local lettings plan.
3D representation of the proposed development
Matt Steart was able to provide a virtual tour of the plans for the Bicclescombe Nursery site which have yet to be submitted as an application. The site aims to have 16 units of accommodation (3 bed, 2 bed and 1 bed) and will have an access road from Furze Hill Road sloping in a U bend into the development. The site will be tiered. There will be a central car park and additional parking providing 20 spaces in total. There is also a turning head for emergency vehicles and refuse collection trucks. There will be a wild flower meadow and open space. Trees will be removed from the site and replanting of more suitable species will take place at the top of the site. There will be an allotment space and a bat house to preserve the current bat route. The ICLT and the architect are committed to a net biodiversity gain. Matt pointed out that this is a designated brownfield site that has been earmarked for development for over 20 years on the local plan.
Matt Steart talked about the difficulties that the site presents including the steepness of the ground which is 1 in 7 at points. These gradients present challenges over access onto and around the development. Drainage has also to be carefully managed on a steep site and this will be achieved through measures such as rain gardens, small swales and attenuated water tanks for surface water. Foul collection will be at Doone Way and South West Water will deliver the route out of the development.
After the presentation the floor was open for members of the public to ask the panel questions and people were very engaged. There were questions around access to the site given the narrowness of Furze Hill Road and parking issues. Matt Steart assured those attending that a transport consultant is part of the planning application and that the Highways Authority will comment on the proposals. Neighbours asked about boundary issues and proximity of the houses on the development. Matt assured that they will meet the requirements of distance and that boundary issues will be looked at as part of the application. Another question was about how affordable these homes will be. Steve Watson responded that all units were for social rent, which is the lowest level of affordable rent, and the homes will not be available to buy by residents as they are held in perpetuity for local people by the Trust. Aster Housing Association will partner with the ICLT to build and manage the properties when they are rented. A member of the public asked how the house building will be funded. Steve responded that this is through central government grant funding drawn down from Homes England to provide 100% affordable.
Taking a closer look at the proposed design.
The panel then made themselves available for further discussion on an individual level and feedback was collected over issues such as heat loss, wildlife destruction, window size, traffic onto the site and sewerage. There were also a lot of positive comments about the project and its aim of increasing the number of affordable, decent and sustainable homes available to local people. Those who were interested in the work of the Ilfracombe Community Land Trust were also given an opportunity to join and a significant number did on the night.
If you are interested in becoming a member and helping us in our ambition to provide more decent social housing for our community, please click here for more details and the option to fill in your details to join. We welcome your interest and feedback so please email the Secretary if you have further questions