Plans to expand an East Devon business park and create between 20 and 25 jobs are set to net the green light.
Proposals for the site opposite Darts Farm in Clyst St George aim to create six new units to be used for offices, light industry and storage and distribution.
And East Devon District Council (EDDC) officers are recommending the scheme at Dart Business Park is approved.
The authority’s Development Management Committee will decide the fate of the application on Monday.
A report to members says the economic benefits to the local and wider community are considered to weigh heavily in favour of the proposals.
A previous and larger scheme for 10 units, that would have created 40 to 50 jobs, was rejected in April last year – with councillors naming 15 separate policies that the controversial scheme then contravened.
As before, the site forms part of a woodland plantation, much of which will need to be removed to accommodate the development.
The report says: “The current proposal has been substantially reduced from that previously considered, and this application has addressed previous technical concerns and, subject to appropriate conditions, the proposal is considered to be acceptable in terms of highway safety, flood risk, drainage issues, ecology and arboricultural impact.
“Visually, the proposed development would be seen against the backdrop of existing trees and the landscape impact would be acceptable, particularly given some other landscape enhancements to the site and woodland edge proposed.
“There is no objection to the visual impact, loss of trees or wider impacts from the landscape officer or parish council.
“Overall, it is considered the revised proposals address concerns raised by the previous application and that the economic benefits arising from the proposed development, with the creation of additional new jobs and employment opportunities, outweigh any limited harm arising from the proposal.
“The site is well-related to the existing business park and there are significant benefits in terms of job creation and economic growth associated with the proposal which weigh heavily in favour of the proposal, and the visual impact is considered to be localised and not highly detrimental.
“The loss of trees within the plantation, does not result in a level of harm that outweighs the economic benefits and the creation of a significant number of new jobs resulting from the proposal, particularly given the location and characteristics of the site.”
Despite the scheme being contrary to the Clyst St George Neighbourhood Plan due to the removal of the woodland, the parish council is in support of the application.
Explaining why, the authority says: “The reasons and landscaping plan put forward are compelling.
“The removal of trees above a high pressure gas pipeline is a matter of safety and only a few trees are to be removed to facilitate the building of the new business units.
“The replanting along the line of the gas pipeline with native shrubs will create woodland edge conditions and the new units will create jobs and allow some local businesses to grow.”
The council’s economic officer adds: “I admit to being at a loss as to how, in the face of such compelling specific evidence of economic need, benefit and even loss through planning delay, it has not been possible to make a determination that these outweigh the loss of trees.”
EDDC’s Development Management Committee will meet virtually via Zoom on Monday, May 18.
