Residents of Sidmouth, a seaside town in Devon, have voiced strong opposition to proposed restrictions that could outlaw building work on their properties. The East Devon District Council’s draft local plan includes the designation of a Coastal Change Management Area (CCMA) in parts of Sidmouth. This plan aims to curb development in zones deemed at high risk from coastal erosion over the next 100 years.
The CCMA would bar new residential developments and conversions in the affected areas. However, local residents, particularly along Cliff Road, contest the plan, claiming the erosion data behind it is flawed and inconsistent. Many feel the policy infringes on property rights, may reduce property values, and create difficulties when selling homes.
Critics also highlight that the plan seemingly ignores a forthcoming £21 million beach management scheme designed to reduce erosion risks significantly. Paul Griew, a Cliff Road resident who lost a summerhouse to the sea in 2017 and a member of the Cliff Road Action Group, urged the council to drop the policy. He noted that the CCMA’s coverage was arbitrarily reduced from 40 to 15 houses without new scientific analysis and expressed doubts about its local benefits.
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Griew proposed two amendments: allowing existing homeowners to extend their homes at their own risk subject to planning approval, and revisiting the CCMA designation once the beach management plan, expected to complete in 2027, demonstrates reduced erosion risk.
Tony Birch, a retired civil engineer who worked with the Environment Agency on hazard mapping, also criticized the policy for lacking publicly available erosion data, calling it unjustifiable and potentially noncompliant. He stated that the council had not published the necessary evidence, raising transparency concerns.
In response, Ed Freeman, assistant director for planning strategy and development management at East Devon District Council, acknowledged these concerns and promised to seek ways to provide more information. The strategic planning committee has agreed to review the CCMA policy and deliberate further in a report due at their September meeting.