Save The Red - Community Action Group

IMPORTANT- Update on The Red Lion Planning. A new planning application has been submitted. Therefore previous objections will not show on this new application. Please submit your objections by the 16th of November. Further information below

Hello to supporters of the “Save The Red” Campaign.

The “Save the Red” Community Action Group has been working very hard since our last update when we wrote about securing the Red Lion as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). We presented our application to Teignbridge District Council who, before approval, require more information. We have collated more evidence to back-up the application which includes support from our Parish Council and CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) so a big thank you to them and to all those who have helped and contributed. Hopefully an ACV will be secured in the coming weeks!

With regard to the proposed redevelopment of the Red Lion site, the owner, Terry Tume has withdrawn his original planning application, after being advised by Teignbridge District Council that it would NOT BE APPROVED by them. This success was down to you all by submitting your objections. Well done!

Terry Tume has now submitted a new planning application, again, for ‘Change of Use’

(planning reference 23/01849/FUL).

As before, this is to convert the Red Lion into 4 small homes on half of the site. You can view the new application on the Teignbridge Website:

https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planning/planning-applications-and-appeals/view-and-comment-on-planning-applications-and-appeals/

The Red Lion site is being marketed for sale by commercial property agents Bettesworth. To find it, go into their website, click on the Residential section and, under Development, it’s about the 4th property on the page (not the obvious way to advertise a pub for sale!). It is classified as ‘under offer’ and we are told that a local developer has purchased the site subject to planning being approved. After several enquiries to establish if it can be purchased, each time we are told that it is under offer – end of! The price for the site remains unchanged since it was first marketed on 29th June 2022, at £425,000.

We have compared the new planning application to the previous one and there are some minor changes to its design but, in principle, it is the same. The previous concerns raised by objectors and the Parish Council remain evident.

The ”Save the Red” Community Action Group, working with our partners and advisers, will be lodging another strong objection to stop this application.

Once again, we are appealing to our valued community and supporters. If you want to see the Red Lion open again, here is what do you need to do:–

Attend the Parish Council meeting - The new planning application will be put to our Parish Council for either support or rejection. The previous planning application was unanimously unsupported by the Parish Council. We want to get this decision repeated so please look out for the meeting date and join us to have your say in keeping the Red Lion as a pub.

Submit your objection, before Thursday 16th November 2023, and state why you are objecting but, most importantly, state clearly that you want the Red Lion to remain as a Public House. It is so important that Teignbridge District Council understands that you, the community, want to keep this pub open.

When objecting, please be aware that Planning Officers at the District Council favour objections that relate to its Policies. In this case the key policy is the Teignbridge Local Plan 2013-2033 (https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/localplan). Our advice is for every concern/point you have, take a look at this Policy and see if you can find it mentioned. If you can, then simply state your argument/point and link this to what is said in the policy (ideally state the policy reference). Planning Officers are obligated to consider these points.
Your objection really counts, even if it is the same as your previous objection. Look at the planning documents and the Planning Statement and be aware that documents will be added to this site and may be important to your thoughts so it is worth taking a look each week. Remember, you can always add another objection at any stage. If you do this, we recommend that you do not withdraw your previous one(s).

Spread the word, tell your friends who may have visited the pub in the past – anyone can object!

Please note the last day you can put in your objection is Thursday 16th November 2023. If you need any advice, please get in contact with anyone at the “Save the Red” Community Action Group.

Once again, a big thank you!

‘Save the Red’ Community Action Group.

View and comment on planning applications and appeals - Teignbridge District Council View and comment on planning applications and appeals

Hello to all helpers and supporters of the “Save The Red” Campaign.

A big ‘thank you’ for all the hard work by everyone involved and have helped us with the ‘Save the Red’ campaign. To keep you advised of what’s been happening, we have put together a brief update of our progress below.

It doesn’t seem five minutes since the ‘out of the blue’ announcement came confirming that plans are afoot to convert the Red Lion into housing. They always say that hindsight is a wonderful thing as, if we had known what lay ahead, we could have acted earlier. I don’t think we should be too hard on ourselves as when we were told, from the ‘horse’s mouth’, that the true intention is to sell the Red Lion as a going concern.

The community’s response to the planning announcement was swift and led to steps being taken to attempt to stop it in its tracks. The formation of the group of like-minded individuals, ‘Save The Red Community Action Group’ (SRCAG) was established with the aim to:

Keep the Red Lion as a pub and stop Terry Tume’s (owner) ‘Change of Use’ Planning Application (23/00898/FUL) – to turn part of the site into 4 dwellings.
With the above planning application stopped, try to get the Red Lion sold as a going concern to a professional landlord or become a Community Pub.
The Action Group needed to gauge the community’s feelings towards saving the Red Lion and try to understand what they thought about Community matters. This had to be part of our planning Objection Statement but having only 21 days (Teignbridge Planning Rules) in which to get feedback, all we could do was to complete a sampling exercise as fast as possible. After consulting with The Plunkett Foundation, the Action Group worked hard to circulate and retrieve questionnaires. This achieved, we can confirm that 500 were issued and 168 were returned. This represented approximately 280 residents. We are really sorry if we missed anyone.

Another key element was to get the Red Lion pub classified as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ (ACV). Most of us had never heard of such a thing and certainly did not fully understand its significance to a community. In basic terms, any community in England can apply to have an asset classified as an ACV but it has to be done in a certain way. By far the best way is to request the local Parish Council (PC) to support the application by making a request to the District Council (DC). It’s for the DC to decide whether to support the application or not. If successful, an asset (be it a building, land or item) is then classified as an ACV for five years and if the owner wishes to sell it, they must give the Community a chance to buy it.

The Action Group attempted to do this through our Parish Council. Unfortunately, Terry Tume threatened the PC with legal action if it supported the ACV application and if it delayed his ‘alleged’ sale of the Red Lion. The PC chose to defer its decision. In response to this, the Action Group proceeded with its own ACV request which has been submitted to Teignbridge DC, subsequently the PC agreed to support our application. We are waiting to hear from Teignbridge DC with their decision. Should AVC status be approved, the Plunkett Foundation offer supportive advice in moving forward.

With regard to Terry Tume’s planning application, on the 5th June, the local Parish Councillors voted unanimously NOT to support the ‘Change of Use’ Application. Over 80 people attended the meeting in support of saving the Red Lion so, thank you all.

Another challenge we faced was trying to circumnavigate and understand the Teignbridge Planning Policies in relation to this particular cause. With only 21 days in which to submit an objection, it soon became clear that these processes are not designed to help anyone wishing to object to a planning proposal but do, however, favour the applicant.

District Councils must adhere to the National Planning Policy which is very vague and open to interpretation. Planning Officers and Committees who decide whether to approve a planning application mainly refer to planning objections that relate to or argue a point in the Planning Policy. If your objection is based on a personal view or is not linked to a policy reference, it is likely to be ignored. Emotions and even very good points play little or no part in the decision process.

The Action Group has worked very hard to raise awareness about the need and importance for community members to submit their own Planning Objections. Once again, teams of people spoke to friends, family and neighbours and information leaflets were distributed locally. We are pleased to confirm that 69 objections were submitted! Great work!



The Action Group’s Objection Statement (to the planning application) was submitted on 5th July. We would like to thank all who helped and supported us, namely; CAMRA, The Plunkett Foundation and Save the Fountain Inn Community Action Group (Whimple). It’s been a learning curve and a frustrating process but we have done the best we can.

We give a big thank you to local Councillor Andy Swain who has been very helpful and supportive with the ACV application and aspects of objecting to the Planning Application.

So, the current situation is that we should have had the Planning Officer’s decision as to whether he approves Terry Tume’s ‘Change of Use’ planning application. This was initially due on 14 July but has been deferred twice, once until the 11 August and now the 1 September to allow for further investigation. Fingers crossed.

Regarding the sale of the Red Lion – on numerous occasions at Parish Council meetings, Terry Tume assures us he has ‘unconditionally’ sold the Red Lion to a developer and, when pressed, said exchange of contracts was due imminently. On the commercial Estate Agents website, it is still ‘Under Offer’.

When the planning decision has been made, the Action Group will review matters and let you know its thoughts on moving forward.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope it is helpful. Please do get in touch if you require further information.



Once again, a big thank you!

Steve Chambers.

Chairman. ”Save the Red” Community Action Group.

Don't forget to have your say on the proposed planning application.

If you haven't already officially made your objection follow the link below and make a constructive objection.

Time is s running out - the more objections the stronger the case against the conversion of the pub into housing.

23/00898/FUL | Change of use and conversion of public house and one flat into four houses with associated garden and parking including demolition of single storey extension | Red Lion Inn Tedburn St Mary Devon EX6 6EQ