Internationally renowned artist Damien Hirst has been given the green light to press ahead with a mixed use development on the outskirts of a Devon town.
The outline plan for 750 homes, together with a school, health centre, shops and offices – which has been ongoing for some time – was finally approved by North Devon Council this week.
The approval was given after committee members visited the 187 acre site where Hirst already owns a restaurant and several other properties.
Councillors believe the scheme will boost the economy of the seaside town by increasing the population and creating jobs, but some locals are not happy with the plans.
They point to the fact that the development includes only 75 affordable homes and fear it will attract only older, wealthy buyers. Others believe it is too big for the town and will put too great a strain on infrastructure and services.
District councillor Paul Yabsley dismisses these objections. “All the groups that I work with recognise that we need to grow Ilfracombe,” he told the North Devon Journal.
“2,500 extra people in the town, that’s considerably more spending power. This will create further jobs in our restaurants and shops, it will create a stronger economy.”
Damien Hirst came to prominence in the early 1990s as a leading member of the group known as the Young British Artists (YBAs), which also included Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas.
His early work – most notably a series of dead animals preserved in formaldehyde- made him a household name.
More recently he has created a platinum skull encrusted with £15m worth of diamonds, and a 67 foot anatomical sculpture of a pregnant woman (pictured) which stands on the Ilfracombe seafront.
Today he is reportedly Britain’s wealthiest artist, recorded in the Sunday Times Rich List as being worth over £200m.
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