Eagle One Holds The Quay

Whatever it is to you - the quay, marina or docks, it’s a hot potato. Eagle One’s final phase in the development of a major waterside and marine development in Exmouth is under scrutiny.

An agreement for seven apartments, with two town houses in between could now be replaced with 14 apartments, one storey higher than originally planned. It highlights a hugely contentious issue as locals say that what was once an open space with character shanty-style chalets is now closed in, and property prices exclude many in the local market.

Eileen Wragg, Lib Dem town and district councillor says: “I can’t express an opinion but I know that local residents have expressed concerns about losing more of the estuary view as a result of the height, density and the massing.

“It used to be an open area and the development has totally changed that part of the Exe and very few locals can afford to buy there.”

Plans have been through the District Council development control committee but Eileen Wragg says: “People who don’t know the area are making the decisions and one of my main concerns is that with an approval for 14 apartments, there will be no obligation for the developer to make a contribution to affordable housing.”

Chris Fayers, a spokesperson for Eagle One Group said: “The change in our plans has come about due to the construction of the new sea wall.

“Due to the proximity of the new sea wall, we have looked again at the scheme and consider that the ground-floor apartments should have estuary views rather than a view of the back of a concrete wall.

"As a consequence, we have sought to raise the ground floor apartment floor levels.

“This in turn allowed us to create more parking, which meant we were able to look at increasing the number of apartments in the building both to make the best use of the site according to government guidelines for avoiding building on green field sites and secondly to find a way of paying for the extra storey of construction by lifting the building up.

“We have had many consultations with both the residents at the marina and the local planning authority and have taken on board as many of the comments as we were able to, to come up with a scheme that is both in-keeping with the existing development and suitable for its position.

“We also need to ensure that whatever we do construct is economically viable and meets the now very different market place that we find ourselves in.”

The controversial sea defence wall has already obliterated the views of ground-floor residents of Madison Wharf and Windward Court, with one wheelchair-bound MS sufferer, Nigel Smith, being forced to sell up. He told Quay News, the newsletter of the Exmouth Quay Residents Association: “All my views have gone and the place is now a prison.”

EDDC meets to consider this application on 30th June.

What’s more important to you? Views of the estuary for Quay residents or ensuring that the marina development is a viable business project for Eagle One? If the council throws the application out, would you want it to be left as work in progress, unfinished until the economy recovers? Exmouth People is a community-led website, so share your thoughts on this hot topic.