Application for six flats near Honiton’s high street thrown out by district planners

An application to transform the first floor of a historical building in Honiton into flats has been refused by district planners.

Great Western Properties submitted plans to East Devon District Council to convert office space at 7 Dolphin Court, off High Street, into six one-bedroom flats.

The plans for the two-storey building, which currently houses Honiton Carpets on its ground floor and offices on its first floor, were backed by Honiton Town Council when it came before its planning committee in September last year.

However, the district council said the development would ‘harm the business and employment opportunities’ of the area.

In a refusal notice, the council said: “There is presently an acute shortage of employment sites available in Honiton.

“The development would result in the loss of an office employment premises which would harm the business and employment opportunities of the area.”

The council said it received no evidence of a ‘surplus supply’ of similar premises or provision in the locality.

It added: “The benefit of the provision of six additional flats, at a time when the council has a sufficient supply of land for housing, does not outweigh the harm identified to employment opportunities.

“The proposal would lead to an unbalanced community without sufficient employment opportunities for the residents of Honiton.”