District chiefs have rejected officer advice and refused plans for a 113-apartment retirement community on the site of their current HQ at Knowle.

Members of East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) development management committee today voted seven to six against PegasusLife’s proposals.

They cited overdevelopment, the impact on neighbouring residents and the departure from the site’s 50-home allocation in the authority’s Local Plan as key reasons. They also had concerns about the lack of ‘affordable’ housing provision in the town due to the classification of the development.

But supporters said the application did not go far enough and the assisted living being proposed was forward looking and would help future-proof East Devon.

Recommending approval, officers had told councillors the development would adversely affect the listed summerhouse but the benefits to the public outweighed this harm.

Proceeds from the sale of the site to PegasusLife will go towards EDDC’s relocation to Honiton and Exmouth.

The developer now has the right to appeal.

See the full report in Friday’s Herald.