Controversial multi home building is scaled down and approved

Developers have scrapped the third floor of a proposed controversial building in Westward Ho! because it is “overbearing”.

The property will now provide three three-bed homes instead of four-bed one as Majic Property Ltd scaled down its design for 51 Atlantic Way.

The building’s ridge height has been reduced by nearly a metre and a hipped roof will replace the gabled roof.

Cllr Chris Leather (Ind, Northam) said at Torridge District Council’s planning committee this week that the design was “the perfect answer to the problems we raised.”

The committee didn’t reach a decision on the proposal last month which had provoked 45 letters of objections.

Majic already had existing permission for a “modestly scaled” two-storey building to replace an old dormer bungalow but work was put on hold last year after an enforcement investigation discovered floors were two metres higher than the original plans.

The company submitted amended plans to increase the height of the building  but councillors raised concerns about the property being out of character with the rest of the street, comments that were echoed by local opponents.

Both recommendations to approve and refuse the application were lost at the June planning meeting, leaving the developer with the right to appeal to the secretary of state as the deadline for a decision had passed.

Majic, however, took the alternative option to submit a further planning application, which was a “direct response” to the June meeting where the proposal was “finely balanced” they said.

Officers said it the design and appearance of the building was more closely aligned with the original scheme approved in 2022 and it was unanimously supported by the committee.