Karting track changes at Dunkeswell Raceway, Dunkeswell, Honiton

“The changes that are now proposed can be summarised as follows: Kart racing (with the maximum noise limit retained at 85db) on 14 full weekends per calendar year. Kart racing (with the maximum noise limit retained at 85db) on a further 6 individual Saturdays or Sundays per calendar year with no more than 3 of these 6 days being Sundays. Kart racing (with the maximum noise limit retained at 85db) on 5 Fridays per calendar year between 9.00am and 4.00pm.”

“The proposed changes would result in: An increase in the overall permitted number of racing days from 33 days to 42 days per calendar year (inclusive of the proposed practice days). This would represent an increase of 9 days, equating to an approximate 27.3% increase in percentage terms. An increase in the overall permitted number of hours of racing from 423 hours to 524 hours per calendar year (inclusive of the proposed practice days).”

“25/0382/VAR Dunkeswell Raceway is an existing well-established business located on the western side of Dunkeswell Airfield on an expansive hilltop plateau. The site and surrounding area form part of the designated East Devon National Landscape (NL).”

“The raceway is, from a visual standpoint, considered to be relatively low key within the surrounding landscape, which mainly comprises the airfield to its east, woodland to the west where, topographically, the land falls away into a valley and mainly open agricultural land to the north.”

“The current application ref. 25/0384/VAR seeks the removal of conditions 1 (hours/days of operation) and 3 (Maximum noise levels) and a variation to the wording of condition 4 (limit on kart numbers) so as to facilitate alternative days of operation and hours of kart racing and to increase the number of permitted leisure karts to 24 as proposed within a Noise Management Plan.”

“The principal obligations set out within the agreement: - Restrict race karting to 18 days over 9 full weekends per calendar year together with an additional 15 Saturdays per year (i.e. 33 days in total) - Require 7 days' prior written notice of race karting events to be provided to the Council - Restrict the hours of racing on Saturdays to between 9.00am and 6.00pm and on Sundays to 10.00am and 11.00am and 12 noon and 6.00pm (i.e.”

“It is therefore recommended that all three VAR applications be permitted with the relevant conditions removed and/or amended and replaced with appropriately worded conditions to require compliance with the NMP.”

“Overall therefore, it is considered by officers that the proposed changes to the pattern of karting operations at the Raceway would be acceptable subject to conditions being attached to each of the planning permissions to secure compliance with the submitted NMP. The other conditions attached to the historic permissions (i.e. that are not proposed for removal or variation) are reiterated.”

“The test in terms of the National Landscape and tranquillity is slightly different to that of residential amenity. The topography also means that the noise levels experienced on race days in the surrounding landscape vary between locations. The nearest public rights of way run from Sheldon village heading north while others are located to the north and east of the raceway. These are all over 900m from the track.”

“As such, the context for the proposed changes on relative tranquillity can be summarised as an extra 9 days a year that race kart operations may be audible, but not at a level as to be intrusive, particularly given that 3 of these days would be at a reduced noise level in comparison with the other 6 days. However, the levels of tranquillity within this part of the National Landscape would be reduced on those days.”

“Environmental Health Following ongoing consultation, the Noise Management Plan (Ref: AS13341.250129.NMP.V1.8.docx) has been accepted as providing sufficient detail on the noise control measures to be implemented at the Raceways to mitigate potential impacts on nearby noise-sensitive receptors. Therefore, Environmental Health has no concerns regarding the three applications (25/0382/VAR, 25/0383/VAR, and 25/0384/VAR), subject to the implementation of the NMP.”

“While rationalising/simplifying the regime of controls may be helpful, this should on no account be at the cost of loosening those controls: noise must be effectively managed and monitored, and all activity at the site must also continue to be controlled and restricted to avoid harm or detriment to the valued qualities of the National Landscape.”

“RESOLVED: The four applications at Dunkeswell were refused contrary to the officer recommendation for the following 2 reasons:”

“Delegated authority was given to officers to add relevant neighbourhood plan and NPPF references to the reasons for refusal.”

“The increased frequency of noise arising from the proposal to extend the days and hours of use of the karting track will have a significant adverse impact on the residential amenity of nearby residents, in particular within the village of Shelwell. As such the proposal is contrary to Policies D1 and EN14 of the East Devon Local Plan, 2013 to 2031”

“The increased frequency of noise arising from the proposal to extend the days and hours of use of the karting track will have a significant adverse impact on the tranquillity of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape and will fail to further the purpose of the National Landscape contrary to Strategy 46 of the East Devon Local Plan, 2013 to 2031”