WHILE many councillors were against Hallbaron Ltd's outline proposals for up to 255 homes and associated infrastructure on land west of Higher Exeter Road, Teignmouth, it ended with a 17-3 substantive vote in favour at Tuesday's Teignbridge Council Planning Committee.

The decision followed warnings from business manager Nick Davies and solicitor Duncan Moors that grounds put forward for refusal would not stand up to scrutiny at appeal and the district authority would face substantial costs if it lost.

Cllr James McMurray had proposed refusal maintaining part of the site was outside the Local Plan boundary; the area's biodiversity was not properly checked; there was a lack of study on the impact on surrounding roads and traffic going into town; and insufficient affordable housing.