Marina plan sunk by council

Plans for a 180 berth marina in Horton Road, Slapton, have been refused by Aylesbury Vale District Council.
Diagram showing proposed marina at SlaptonDiagram showing proposed marina at Slapton
Diagram showing proposed marina at Slapton

Councillors on the strategic development management committee said the proposal was an ‘unsustainable form of development’ in an ‘isolated location in open countryside where it is remote from existing services and facilities’.

The marina would have been used for the long-term mooring of privately-owned holiday boats and planned facilities included dry docks, slipway, parking, toilets, showers, laundry, convenience store and cafe.

Slapton Parish Council supported the application, while Aylesbury Vale District Council also received seven letters from the public favouring the proposals. They said the marina would create jobs and bring in tourists, while the convenience store would also be handy for villagers.

However, there were 22 letters of objection, with people arguing it would disrupt the peace of the countryside, have an adverse impact on the setting of the village and lead to the loss of agricultural land.

Council planning officer Seth Williams had recommended that the proposal be refused, despite the authority’s marketing boss being in favour of the application ‘from a tourism perspective’.

In his report to councillors he said the ‘unsustainable location and adverse landscape and visual impacts of the proposal would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified economic, employment, leisure and tourism benefits of the scheme’.

The developers have the right to appeal the decision.

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