A PLANNING application submitted to West Devon Borough Council for 50 houses in Okehampton has received a number of objection letters including one from Okehampton Town Council.

The application put together by the Hunt Group proposes the construction of 50 dwellings, with a mixture of dwelling sizes and tenure, to be built on land located south of Exeter Road, Okehampton.

The application states that 40% of the total of dwellings provided would be affordable housing.

During a recent Okehampton Town Council planning committee meeting it was decided that the council would object to the application on the grounds of amenity, site quality, road safety and services.

The council has said that the proposed dwellings would cause significant adverse visual impact on the area and a loss of green space between the town development and the A30 road.

Councillors were in agreement that the proposed 50 dwellings would lead to a loss of quality grade agricultural land.

It was considered that the new build would create additional congestion on Exeter Road due to the poor access and egress of the road, which already has increasing traffic issues from housing developments, the industrial area and the business park. This led the council to consider road safety issues.

Okehampton Town Council is objecting on the planning grounds of policy as the land in question was not included in the Core Strategy, which provides the strategic planning framework for the county’s future development needs.

It is a range of policies which sets out how these needs can be met while at the same time achieving social and environmental objectives.

Cllr Tony Leech said: ‘This parcel of land was specifically excluded by a planning inspector from a previous town plan and is not included within the existing Core Strategy.

‘It has also not been included in the draft joint plan between West Devon Borough Council, South Hams and Plymouth, and to date has not been part of the Neighbourhood Plan for future development sites, so for just these reasons the application should be declined.’

More than 20 Okehampton residents have also submitted letters of objection to the application.

Okehampton bus-iness owner Robert Flexman wrote: ‘This site, if developed, would have a significant detrimental visual impact on the view towards and from the moorland to the south. This rural green space on the edge of a busy town allows passers-by to enjoy stunning views of north Dartmoor and were it to be built on it would be a tragic loss of amenity.’

Okehampton resident Andy Elliot said: ‘The Hunt Group’s planning application for 50 dwellings is nothing more than an opportunist speculative planning application with the goal of making as much money as possible with no regard what so ever of the views and opinions of the local community.

‘A conservative estimate would suggest a possible income of £11-million for the developer using the greenfield site on agricultural land, which has been in use since 1884.’

He added: ‘I believe that Okehampton and the Hamlets have been badly let down in the past by the poor management of development plans and sincerely hope it doesn’t happen again.’

Andrew Mc-Naughton, speaking on behalf of the Hunt Group agents Rymack Ltd, said: ‘We are aware that every application receives objections and these represent the genuine concerns of local residents. However, we would like to highlight the justification for the application.’

Mr McNaughton explained that the Hunt Group had been involved with the promotion of this site for seven years. He said that the site was constrained and would not lead to any further linear extension of Okehampton (Crediton Road) and that the site can be developed in a single phase without adding to any congestion of the town centre.

He highlighted how West Devon Borough Council had not met its annual housing requirement in the last five years; ie it provided 535 dwellings against a target of 1,075 — leaving a shortfall of 540 dwellings. Therefore the 50 dwellings proposed on Exeter Road would not exceed the targeted housing requirements of West Devon Borough Council.

‘We would also like to point out the site is in a highly accessible and sustainable location and that the provision of 40 per cent affordable housing conforms with current plan policy,’ added Mr McNaughton. ‘The existing hedgerows and boundary trees will also be retained and added to with a landscaping scheme.

‘There are no objections from Devon County Council Highways and South West Water. Although the site may be visible from Dartmoor National Park, it should be noted that most of Okehampton, including some of the new development, is also visible.’