A NUMBER of Hatherleigh residents have raised concerns about a controversial planning application for the development of an additional 80 houses in the town.

The developer, Hatherleigh LVA LLP, submitted a planning application in June for residential development on land west of Runnon Moor in Hatherleigh.

The applicant is seeking outline planning permission for up to 80 dwellings, B1 employment and associated infrastructure with all matters reserved except for access.

The application, submitted to West Devon Borough Council, has received 13 letters of objection and one letter of support. It has also been branded as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘unnecessary’ by several local residents.

Residents were concerned that the development was not on a site agreed in West Devon’s Joint Local Plan and that it would have a detrimental impact due to increased pressures on the town’s services, school, medical centre and infrastructure.

Jerry Laye-Sion, from Hatherleigh, said that the development was wholly unnecessary: ‘I would like to register my objections to this planning application on the basis that it is does not address any genuine need. It also has potential detrimental impact on Hatherleigh due to increased pressures on an already near capacity school, medical centre and local infrastructure.’

Andrew Wilkinson, who owns a listed property immediately adjacent to the proposed site, said: ‘The joint local plan for development sites has been approved and adopted and it does not include this field.There is no need for further housing development sited in Hatherleigh as the local area plan has identified the sites. These sites have not been developed yet and the local area plan states that the sites identified for development will provide housing needs.’

Another resident Martyn Bowan said: ‘Development on this site would have a considerable impact on the landscape as it is to be development as a housing estate with some 80 houses allocated with what looks like provisions put in place for further development to the west.’

He also said that development would have negative visual impact and ecological impact due to a significant loss of hedgerows.

Penny Mills, from countryside protection charity CPRE Devon, said that the proposal was totally unacceptable: ‘This large development is not wanted or needed in Hatherleigh and there is no justification for the destruction of yet more of Devon’s precious green fields.’

Jonathan Chick, planning consultant for Walsingham Planning speaking on behalf of its client Hatherleigh LVA LLP, said: ‘We are in the process of reviewing the consultation responses received in relation to the planning application and will be responding to the council in due course.’

The target determination date for the planning application is September 15, when the final decision will be made by West Devon Borough Council.