For those residents of Seaton who may have missed it (it was very poorly advertised) a planning application has been submitted to build 149 homes 70 per cent of which would be low cost on a greenfield site between Seaton and Colyford at the junction of Harepath Road/Harepath Hill.

For those residents of Seaton who may have missed it (it was very poorly advertised) a planning application has been submitted to build 149 homes - 70 per cent of which would be low cost - on a greenfield site between Seaton and Colyford at the junction of Harepath Road/Harepath Hill. The Seaton Design Statement Working Party, made up of local people, has been working for three years to produce a town design statement for Seaton, which has undergone extensive public consultation and incorporates the views of the residents of Seaton. Those views recognise the need for affordable homes in the town. However, what residents also value about their town is its unique location; its views across the beautiful Axe Valley, the Jurassic Coast cliffs and its green open spaces, particularly to the north. The design statement has sought to protect this unique environment and to seek development of high quality design that does not visibly encroach, dominate or impact on this sensitive setting.The Design Statement Working Party believes that the location of this proposed high-density development on the western hills to the north of the town is totally inappropriate. This land is part of the valued green wedge between Seaton and Colyford; to build there would seriously reduce the town's green spaces. There is already an outline planning application submitted by Tesco to build homes on the town's regeneration site; a further application is pending for another major housing development on the redundant former Racal site. These - brownfield - sites are currently sitting empty. This does beg the question: what is the justification for building yet more homes on our green open spaces when the town already has two sites identified for a substantial number of new houses? Both will more than meet the town's affordable housing needs.The application can be viewed of EDDC's website (application number 09/0179/MFUL). This application conflicts in very many ways with the town design statement that so many residents contributed to, so we urge you to make your views known and respond to this proposal. Helga Hughes, Stuart Nisbet, Heather Sanham, Geoff SmithSeaton Design Statement Working Party representatives