Knowle relocation project: and losing out

The latest Freedom of Information request asks about the adequacy of the new EDDC HQ in Honiton:

What thought went into the design of the debating chamber at the new EDDC HQ and its suitability for participation by the public?

This wouldn’t have happened at the “old” EDDC HQ!

Meanwhile, there have been other questions:

Knowle relocation project: ‘questions hang in the air’

Especially in the light of a column in Private Eye recently:

Knowle relocation project: of Paradise Papers, FOI requests and Private Eye’s Rotten Boroughs column

The political leadership at EDDC has responded:

Council denies underselling headquarters by £40million

The authority said any suggestion it should have got more money from the sale of the property at the Knowle, in Sidmouth, was ‘misguided’.

Private Eye magazine ran a report following a freedom of information request which revealed an estimated value of £50million for the site following redevelopment.

EDDC sold its Sidmouth headquarters at the Knowle to Pegasus Life for £7.5million and moved to its new Blackdown House offices in Honiton earlier this year.

Private Eye wrote: “£50million – some £42.5million more than the council got for it. Smart work!”.

East Devon bosses refute claims that its old Sidmouth headquarters Knowle was undersold by £42.5m | Sidmouth and Ottery breaking news and sport – Sidmouth Herald

Comment from the EDW blog says: “Well, whichever way you cut it, we lost out!”

Exmouth Journal on “Private Eye” valuation of Knowle site – did we miss out on £42.5 MILLION? | East Devon Watch

Indeed:

Knowle relocation project: a summary of the issues

Meanwhile, there isn’t much happening with the Knowle site:

PegasusLife still not listing Knowle as a futre development

Council denies underselling headquarters by £40million

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