Exeter College is pursuing its plans to redevelop part of Flowerpot Fields without planning consent for recent scheme revisions which would no longer reinstate the site’s demolished changing rooms or provide equipment storage or pitch viewing facilities.
Exeter Civic Society has cited key Court of Appeal judgements in a written challenge to the legality of the revisions, which propose to replace the consented sports pavilion with a dedicated teaching facility.
These make clear that such post-consent scheme revisions cannot conflict with a consented scheme’s description whether the conflict is fundamental or otherwise.
It has also pointed out that the floor slab that has already been constructed on the Riverside Valley Park site does not provide the drainage facilities required by the consented plans, and concluded that the college is going ahead with the unapproved classrooms block regardless.
Construction in progress at Flowerpot Fields
Exeter Civic Society has also objected to the scheme revisions on the grounds that they contravene key local planning policies.
It said: “Exwick playing fields are located in the Riverside Valley Park, and the city council’s local plan says that no buildings are permitted unless they support the use of the area. In this case, changing rooms would support the sports use of the area, but a teaching block clearly does not.
“In all the planning applications for these proposals the college says the facilities will support their arrangement with Exeter Chiefs rugby club to support their Academy, and previously said that there will be access for community use outside of core use.
“However, if the current proposals are approved, it will clearly be supporting a private arrangement between the college and Exeter Rugby Club, and also represent a loss for community sports access for city residents.”
Tuesday’s meeting of Exeter City Council was suspended by Lord Mayor Kevin Mitchell after members of the public disrupted the proceedings in protest at the Flowerpot Fields plans.
The protestors were then removed from the Guildhall by its Mace Sergeants.
Council leader Phil Bialyk had attempted to reassure the protestors that council officers were monitoring the Flowerpot Fields construction works to ensure their compliance with the existing planning consent.
Adding that he shared their concerns, he insisted that the proposed scheme revisions would come before the council’s planning committee, which would decide them in public.
However, the council approved major changes to a student accommodation development on the site of the former King Billy public house in Longbrook Street in similar circumstances earlier this year.
It threw out key provisions from the previously consented scheme and reneged on its commitment to refer such a decision to its planning committee.
In an additional twist, a council consultation on its plans to alter the college lease on the land at Flowerpot Fields was held on the basis the land would be used for sports changing rooms.
Exeter Civic Society chair Keith Lewis says he has made repeated attempts to confirm whether the lease alterations would be re-advertised were the council to grant the college consent for its revised scheme, because the land would then be used for education and not sport.
He said: “Despite several emails to the city estates surveyor, Councillor Duncan Wood (Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services and Healthy Living) and Councillor Phil Bialyk (council leader and local ward councillor) I have not had any replies.”
