Located on Devon Road on the southern side of Salcombe along the slope down to the estuary, Sheerwater is a seven bedroom property that has occupied the site for a number of years.

According to the applicant's architect the house has been:

seemingly extended several times and with a somewhat chaotic layout on three main floors, with a loft room level all split over many subsequent floor levels that step down from west to east due to the slope of the site.

This apparently being sufficient justification for it to be demolished and replaced with a supposedly:

improved and more coherent design to replace the disjointed existing dwelling and its extensions, while making best use of the estuary & ocean views and existing landscape features that are a distinct feature of the site currently.

Inevitably the new design will boast a considerable increase in glazing with full height windows and doors. Many of the trees that were previously on the site have already been removed including those along Devon Road that previously screened the property from the Four Winds development behind.

Needless to say the new building will also be far larger, occupying almost the entire site area, with the proposed four storey elevation looking significantly larger than the two storey appearance of the existing building.

The increase in the built form is such that insufficient space will be left for an effective mitigating landscaping scheme, made worse by the earlier removal of trees, and will clearly fail to conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of this part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty when viewed from the Estuary.

Unfortunately, and notwithstanding the Town Council also objecting strongly, the case officer recommended approval, noting that "following two unsuccessful application submissions the applicants have worked with officers through the pre application process to try and resolve the policy conflicts." As a consequence:

Officers consider the scheme as presented has taken on board previous concerns, with a reduced footprint and more sympathetic palette of materials. The landscape scheme has been carefully considered and developed in discussion with Officers during the pre-application stage and will make a positive contribution to the site and its surroundings, helping to assimilate and soften the dwelling.

In response the Ward Councillor referred the application to the Development Management Committee who, by six votes to five, voted to allow the development to proceed.

Many will disagree with that decision.