FastGlobe wins the Atmos planning enquiry

In a huge blow to Atmos, the planning enquiry opened on behalf of FastGlobe has found in favour of the mastics company.

The Atmos campaign to create a space for a community project backed by an overwhelming local referendum appears to have finally ended after a protracted period of wrangling. Only in January this year Ruth Ben Tovim and Rob Hopkins of Atmos told a gathering outside the factory gates that the “tide is turning” in their favour.

The Totnes Pulse has been following the story since 2016 ahead of the referendum which led on to an announcement of £2.5 million funding from the National Lottery in 2020. This was followed by the shock announcement that Atmos had the site sold off by Saputo (formerly Dairy Crest) to FastGlobe.

Is the Dream Gone?

Now it seems the Atmos dream has formally ended with the Planning Enquiry decision to uphold FastGlobe’s planning application, that was originally refused by South Hams District Council, stating:

“…planning permission is granted for hybrid planning application for mixed use development comprising: outline application with some matters reserved for mixed use re- development site comprising circa 80 residential units, circa 1100sqm commercial space, demolition of existing structures excluding Brunel Building & chimney, provision of open space & surface water attenuation, parking & associated infrastructure. Full permission for the change of use of the Brunel Building to community uses (use classes F1/F2) at the Former Dairy Crest Site”

“We’re down but not out.“

A separate call by both parties to be responsible for each other’s costs was refused by the inspector, Hollie Nichols in a parallel decision:

“I have found that unreasonable behaviour has not been demonstrated by either party in either case. Consequently, both applications for costs are refused.”

Francis Northrop of Atmos said: “We are naturally very disappointed by this decision but appreciate the time the Inspector took to understand the Atmos Project and particularly her acknowledgment of our approach to viability. Our planning system is not geared towards community need, only to landowners and ‘developers’, so named whether they intend to build anything or not and the result should be seen in that context. We stand by the evidence we gave at the enquiry and will continue to work on getting the site back so the town can get the housing and jobs it so desperately needs.”

Rob Hopkins of Transition Town Totnes and Atmos is similarly bullish and said on FaceBook: “It’s a sad day for Totnes, for all those many hundreds of people who objected to this unviable and unwelcome scheme, and who fought and worked so hard to give the town the really groundbreaking alternative it so deserves. We’re down but not out.” Which implies they will appeal the decision.

Totnes Pulse will be speaking more detail with all the parties involved and you can read or download the full planning inquiry decision here.