Residents of the historic Devon seaside town are bracing for the rise of giant ultra-modern homes after one dubbed an ‘alien box’ was given the go-ahead – but do they have a point?
Residents of a historic seaside village say they are bracing for an increase in giant ultra-modern homes after one dubbed the ‘foreigner box’ was given unanimous approval.
Villagers in Maidencombe, Devon, who have homes dating back to the 13th century and referenced in the Doomsday Book, are up in arms over the decision by local council planners this week.
The village, which has around 70 homes – mostly traditional whitewashed stone cottages and bungalows – is set amongst red sandstone cliffs close to Torquay and has its own beach and a pub voted the best in Devon in 2022.
But a decision last week to allow a homeowner to demolish a cottage bungalow and replace it with a flat roof ‘freight container’ four times its size has sent shockwaves through the village.
Locals say the village enjoys special protection through a neighborhood plan agreed with Torbay Council in 2019, meaning any development must respect local character and heritage.
However, the approval of the controversial ‘alien box’ home sets a precedent for others to follow suit.
The approved plans for the tiny bungalow, called Mouse Cottage, include its demolition and the construction of an ultra-modern home
The architect’s drawing of the new home which was included in the planning application. Credit: Storm Architects
Nigel Goodman, 72, a retired civil engineer, said: ‘A lot of people are very angry about the decision’
An aerial view of Mouse Cottage and the surrounding properties on Brim Hill
Dr. Rodney Horder, secretary of the Maidencombe Residents Association, said: ‘If you look around, we are a small village, this is a very rural community and a heavily glazed box is out of place here.
‘There is no doubt that they have won. Our concern now is very much that this sets a precedent for other sites.’
Sir. Horder stressed that this was not about preventing new development or so-called Nimbyism, and residents had supported the majority of planning applications in recent years
He added: ‘We have no objection to replacing the cottage with a building that does not completely fill the footprint and has a similar overall design with a pitched roof.
‘It could be a bit bigger and a bit higher, it wouldn’t be a problem, but not four times as big.’
Nigel Goodman, 72, a retired civil engineer, said: ‘A lot of people are very angry about the decision but others will think this is an opportunity to change their house.
‘That box is just foreign to what is meant to be the character of the village.
‘We spent hundreds of hours on the neighborhood plan and what hurts now is that it’s in the bin. I suspect that there will be new applications because a precedent has been set.
‘Some people will say it’s good to modernize the village but not in place of heritage protection, once you open the door the protection is gone.’
The house to be demolished – Mouse Cottage – is in open countryside next to a nature reserve, while it is not in a conservation area, it is directly next to one. Planning documents show the new four-bedroom house with a flat roof will have large windows and a swimming pool.
In April last year, an application for a larger building in a similar style was rejected and an appeal by the developer was later dismissed.
The planning permission notice for a new house in a small village on the outskirts of Torquay
Maidencombe has homes dating back to the 13th century and is featured in the Doomsday Book
Villagers are concerned that the approval of plans for Mouse Cottage (pictured) will trigger a surge in ultra-modern applications
Carl Taylor, who has lived in the village for 37 years, described the approval as a “clear violation of Torbay Council’s own policies”
He said: ‘From my home up the hill, if you look across Maidencombe, little has changed since 1935. It is unique in the sense that development has been contained over the years.
“Had this application been properly assessed it would have been refused.”
In April last year, an application for a larger building was rejected and an appeal from the developer was later dismissed. In the latest application, the reasons why it was previously rejected have been taken into account.
At a Torbay Council planning meeting last week, James Wells, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the new home would replace a ‘tired and rather poorly functioning property’ and would sit comfortably in its surroundings.
Wells has been contacted for comment.