Parish councillors in Mary Tavy are calling for major safety improvements on the A386 as part of a redevelopment plan for the derelict former C J Down’s Garage site.

Eleven open market homes are being proposed by Messrs Dodd, Heard and Wonnacott (WAK Developments Ltd) for part of what was a coach depot for a century.

Dartmoor National Park Authority members decided on Friday to hold a site meeting before determining the application to look at issues around viability and highways.

Speaking at the authority’s development management committee, chair of Mary Tavy Parish Council Paul Reid said the housing was supported in the community but there were concerns about road safety as the homes would be beside a very busy trunk road.

He said a £30,000 contribution which the developer had offered as part of a Section 106 agreement towards traffic claiming should be spent on a mini roundabout or road narrowing.

He told the meeting that 2,000 vehicles used the A386 through the village in each direction every day including many HGVs.

There was a national cycle route crossing the road and two recreational routes – The Dartmoor and West Devon Way – plus it was well-used by horse riders

In a 12-hour period, on rainy wet Wednesday, the council counted over 200 pedestrians crossing by the post office, he said.

Mr Reid also called for a zebra crossing rather than the proposed dropped kerb which provided “a false sense of security”.

He said putting in additional vehicle activation signs warning drivers when they were exceeding the 30mph speed limit might be useful but did not really slow traffic, claiming the police didn’t really care if they were triggered.

Planning officers said highways authority Devon County Council was open to discussing traffic calming measures.

The scheme has been recommended for approval by officers despite not including any affordable housing, as they noted that the scheme would be of “high quality” and enhance the character and appearance of a prominent former industrial area in Mary Tavy.

A viability appraisal highlighted the costs in redeveloping the site which had high levels of arsenic, which was a reason for affordable housing not being included.

The wider C J Down’s Garage site is allocated in the local plan for a mixed use development of 19 homes. It is now in two separate ownerships with the smaller parcel of land also coming forward for two homes.

A previous planning application for 18 dwellings across both of the sites in 2015 was withdrawn prior to decision.

The site was sold in 2024, over a decade after it stopped operating as a depot and coach station.

There has been a long-held ambition in the community to see it redeveloped.