PLANS for 66 new homes to be built in Bovey Tracey have been given the go-ahead by the narrowest of margins.

Burrington Estates’ plans for land at Moretonhampstead Road were approved by Teignbridge District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday morning by the deciding vote of the chairman.

After six councillors voted for and six against, with three abstentions, Cllr Mike Haines, chairman of the committee, used his deciding vote to approve the plans in line with the officer recommendation.

The scheme for the north of the town will see 63 homes built, together with access, landscaping, open space and associated infrastructure, while outline plans for a further three custom build plans have also been approved.

The site forms part of Local Plan allocation BT1, and Cllr Haines said that due to its status as being part of the Local Plan, when the committee had their site visit back in February, he couldn’t see any reason why what was being proposed would not be acceptable given the principle of development had been established.

Officers, recommending approval, had added that the applicant has worked pro-actively with the council to produce a revised scheme which meets the various competing demands of the Local Plan policy.

But concerns were raised by various members of the committee, as well as Bovey Tracey Town Council, about the flawed nature of the scheme. Richard Bray, objecting to the plans, said that there were legitimate concerns that had not been addressed.

Cllr John Nutley said he could not support the application in the current state of it.

While Cllr Huw Cox added: ‘The application has so many holes in it and I am surprised it was ever considered suitable for development as it needs too much work.’

Cllr George Gribble raised further concerns about highway safety, increased traffic, and a lack of infrastructure, while Cllr Janet Bradford was concerned about the impact on wildlife in the area.

But when it came to the vote, after six members voted for and against, with three abstentions, Cllr Haines was asked to use his casting vote and voted to approve the plans.

The plans include 43 open market dwellings with a mix of two, three, four and five-bed houses and 20 affordable dwellings with a mix of one-bed flats and two and three-bed houses.

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The proposals form the first of three phases of development on the site that could eventually see 120 homes built.