Exmouth Sideshore extension rejection overruled

Admin building and loos can be added

A new building and five pay-to-use loos can be built at the Sideshore watersports and retail development on Exmouth seafront after a successful appeal.  

The approved plans are for a single-storey flexible office and community hub on a wedge of grass to the west, and five public toilets to the rear of Sideshore in an extension to the bin store. The new loos would open from dawn until dusk and use contactless payments. 

East Devon District Council’s planning committee initially refused to give permission to a company called Queen’s Drive CIC for the project in February last year, but the Planning Inspectorate has overturned the decision. 

The committee thought the proposed building would detract from the “character and appearance of the wider area” and would have been “detrimental to the openness and special landscape qualities of Exmouth seafront”. 

But the Inspectorate overruled the council. It said the proposed structure would not be out of keeping with the character and appearance of this part of the seafront because of the nearby buildings, it would not interrupt views and it would occupy “a relatively small part of a grassed area and therefore would not compromise the openness of the site and its surroundings”. 

The new building will have desk space for the Sideshore venue manager and “flexible meeting space” for the company and other community groups. Planning documents say it will also “assist in facilitating events held on the adjacent Sideshore open space” and feature bird boxes, insect hotels, window plant boxes and trellises.

Artist's impression of new building (Image courtesy: EDDC planning documents/ Hilton Barnfield Architects)