PLANS for 61 new homes, a medical centre and buildings for employment on the edge of North Tawton were this week given the go-ahead by West Devon Borough Council.

The council's planning committee voted six to four in favour of granting the application, subject to the council's development management manager finding no new issues being raised from the second consultation period, which finished on January 2, and satisfactory completion of the Section 106 agreements.

The application by Wainhomes (South West) Holdings Ltd comprises detailed plans for 61 residential dwellings, and associated open space, allotments and SUDS (sustainable urban drainage) areas on arable agricultural fields towards the west of the A3124 main road which serves the town.

To the north of the site are 1970s residential bungalows located off Moor View.

The 4.4 hectare site is situated outside, but immediately adjacent to, the settlement boundary of North Tawton, as identified in the Local Plan. The site will be developed on grade 2 and grade 3A agricultural land.

Cllr Bob Baldwin said: 'I don't think anyone here is happy to see good agricultural land lost to development.

'However, there is a clear need for additional housing in our smaller towns in the borough. It seems to me a well designed site.'

The development received the support of the town council.

Cllr Nick Morgan, borough councillor for North Tawton, said: 'People did not want the type of development taking place in Okehampton. However, the town has to move forward. I feel overall, that this development should be allowed.'

Twenty four of the 61 residential units —comprised of one bedroom flats, two and three bedroom bungalows and four bedroom detached houses — will be affordable housing.

The application also has an outline element relating to an employment area and medical centre facility.

The final layout and design of the employment area will be subject to a reserved matters application influenced by operator requirements. Appearance, layout, scale and landscaping of this portion of the site will be decided in this reserved matters application.

The medical centre would also be influenced by final Primary Care Trust requirements, but has been included within the scheme due to the need for improved medical facilities in North Tawton.

Cllr Terry Pearce questioned moving the town's medical centre onto the town outskirts.

He said: 'I have concerns over the medical centre. It seems to be that we had an application before us a couple of years ago for the pharmacy to go into the existing medical centre.

'This development moves the medical centre further out of town for people, and may increase traffic on that road in and out of town.'

Access into the site will be through a T-junction on the A3124. Councillors raised concerns over the safety of such a junction on a main road which serves much of the traffic coming into the town, with several members preferring to see a roundabout built at the site entrance.

The original plans included a roundabout, but county highway officers suggested using a T- junction with a 30mph speed limit instead, stating that a roundabout would be excessive, and a junction more appropriate for the rurality of the area.

Cllr John Sheldon was vocal about his desire to see a roundabout on the site.

He said: 'Members went to the location on a site visit.

'It is fair to say we are all drivers, and have a good opinion on it.

'Even if the speed is reduced, that is not to say people will stick to it.

'I couldn't support this application without a roundabout at the site entrance, as it is unsafe.'

Cllr Mike Benson said: 'I have grave concerns about the junction. Looking at the drop of the road and its camber, to me it looks like it could be a problem.'

Playing devil's advocate, Cllr Terry Pearce said: 'Surely it is better to accept this application as it is before us, with recommendations from the highway officers, and if a need is found for a roundabout, we can build it in the future.'

Simon Cater from Wainhomes Holdings stated that development of the site was scheduled to begin in spring 2014.