Roger Lea, of Heathlands Rise, Teignmouth, writes:

Re Plan Teignbridge 2013 – 2033.

Cllr Clarance in stating that Plan Teignbridge was inspected by a planning inspector and found to be sound, infers that it is cast in stone for the duration (Teignmouth Post letters, January 26).

This is not the case and I have correspondence from Nick Boles who was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Planning) at the time, who stated: ‘Our [the Government] policy sets out that authorities’ supply of housing land should be revised annually in light of changing circumstances’.

Plan Teignbridge (p31) dictates that Teignmouth should allocate land with a capacity for at least 340 new homes during the whole 20-year plan period.

Developments already completed include Marine Drive, New Horizons and others, together with ‘windfall’ developments, brownfield sites, and empty homes in Teignmouth and those available on the open market, must be taken into account because those residents contribute to the pressure on facilities and the inadequate infrastructure.

There should be no question of the detailed application for 255 homes at Higher Exeter Road being considered by Teignmouth Council until a reappraisal is made of the needs for housing in Teignmouth. This should involve our town council facilitating a public forum with a proper period of consultation.

Cllr Clarance’s assertion that 62 affordable homes would be available for youngsters to gain a foothold on the housing ladder is misleading. He will know that the original allocation for this site was 30 per cent. This was amended at the outline application stage to a ‘target’ of 25 per cent; but with an option for this to be reduced to 20 per cent if viability was reappraised at the reserve matters stage.

The applicant has openly admitted that this is a difficult (costly) site to develop and there will quite likely be a further reduction.

Teignmouth Council has submitted a ‘holding objection’ to Teignbridge in respect of this detailed application. This, together with the weight of objections sent to Teignbridge District Council, must ensure that a halt is called to this proposed development for the foreseeable future.