Council’s ‘hands are tied’ by developers planning homes

UP to 50 homes will be built on a green field on the outskirts of Newton Abbot after councillors decided it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Teignbridge Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the homes on land east of Buckland Road, described by Cllr Mike Ryan as being ‘right on the skyline’.

Councillors raised issues around traffic and transport, and the loss of green fields.

But Cllr Chris Clarance told colleagues: ‘This is part of the 1,088 homes the government is asking this authority to build in a year, and we have to find sites for them somewhere.

‘It’s a shame that we have to use these sites, but our hands are tied.’

Cllr Jane Taylor said she had concerns over the busy road and its lack of pavement, and added: ‘I don’t think we should be supporting an application for 50 homes in such a sensitive area.’

Committee chairman Peter Williams pointed out that while the application had been flagged up by the local parish council, none of its members attended the site visit or the planning committee meeting.

Applicant Rubix Strategic applied for outline permission for up to 50 homes, 13 of which would be ‘affordable’.

Local people said there were concerns over how the narrow road to the field would cope with extra traffic, as it already saw up to 50 heavy tankers a day serving the nearby sewage works.

Devon County Council raised no objections, however, and the land is allocated for housing in the Local Plan, albeit for 30 homes rather than 50.

Cllr Ryan said it would put extra pressure on local services and, he added: ‘It is good farm land, and we should be producing more good locally-grown food.’

On behalf of Rubix Strategic, Andy Shepley said the proposal was not a major departure from the local plan.

Councillors agreed to give the scheme the go-ahead by four votes to three.