New 375-home village on farmland in Devon is given go-ahead

PLANS for a new village on fields near Paignton have been given permission by an inspector.

The Government-appointed official has allowed an appeal by developers for the site known as Inglewood.

The scheme was opposed by Torbay Council because of its impact on the landscape.

Evidence for the appeal was heard at an online planning inquiry in January.

In a decision published yesterday, Inspector Andrew Dawe, of the Planning Inspectorate, has given outline permission for up to 373 homes, a pub and primary school on land alongside Brixham Road, near White Rock. Local councillor Karen Kennedy said the neighbourhood forum for the area was “gutted” by the decision.

The appeal was brought by Abacus Projects Ltd/Deeley Freed Ltd after the council failed to make a decision in time.

The council’s planning committee later decided that it would have refused the scheme because of its effect on the landscape.

The site is on farmland outside the designated Future Growth Area and is not identified for housing in the Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan.

It is also close to the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and objectors said the development would cause unacceptable harm to the setting of the protected landscape and the open space between Paignton and Brixham.

The inspector accepted the scheme would cause some harm to the landscape character and appearance of the area.

It would also go against local planning policies by filling part of the “settlement gap” of open countryside, but he said the limited harm to the landscape was not enough to justify rejecting the application.

The inspector said the council could not meet Government rules to show a five-year or three-year supply of housing sites, and on balance the scheme should be approved.

The inspector set out a series of planning conditions, including financial contributions towards healthcare costs to cope with extra demand from the new residents.

The benefits included 373 extra homes, with 30% classed as affordable housing.

He ruled th-at the other benefits, including a primary school site, new pub, public open spaces, countryside access, allotments, new jobs and improved biodiversity, justified granting permission.