Ladram Bay is 'detrimental' to Jurassic Coast

Holiday park slammed in Otterton plan

A new plan for the development of Otterton is critical of a major holiday park within the boundaries of the East Devon village. 

Otterton's neighbourhood plan outlines resistance to any future expansion of the Ladram Bay Holiday Park. It explains how the caravan and lodges development has grown to its maximum size within its boundary, has a detrimental impact on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and has an impact on the village in terms of excess traffic, congestion and the accompanying pollution that cars, delivery vans, lorries and caravans bring.

The neighbourhood plan, which local people will vote on, adds that the access road is totally inadequate to serve such a large site, and says vehicles coming to and from it must be properly controlled to prevent congestion. Accordingly planners recommend that any future development of Ladram Bay Holiday Park would only be permitted within its existing site boundary.

Support will be given for any proposal which improves wider roads accessing the site, reduces the number of holiday units on the site, reduces the need to travel by car, the need for delivery lorries and improves walking and cycling. It calls for Otterton to be provided with a car park for visitors as shortage of parking in the village centre is also affecting businesses, the community shop and the village hall.

Policies in the broader plan say that no development should be allowed to have a detrimental impact on the landscape and character of Otterton village and the parish as a whole by virtue of its location, scale, density and design and any necessary future development should support proven local needs first.

Because of coronavirus restrictions, Otterton residents may have to wait 10 months before being able to vote on the plans. Referenda are suspended until May 2021.