Housing Secretary asked to halt homes plan
ASCHEME for a controversial housing estate on a field near Paignton has taken a new twist with a last-ditch attempt to block it.
Objectors have asked the Secretary of State to step in even though the plans for up to 73 homes at Collaton St Mary have been approved.
The outline application for the ‘car boot’ field north of the A385 Totnes Road behind the village school was passed in August by Torbay Council’s planning committee.
The scheme, including a junction onto the main road, was almost identical to one refused in October 2019 by the same committee because of concerns over the risk of flooding.
But housebuilder Taylor Wimpey submitted an appeal and put in a fresh application for permission.
That was approved by the planning committee, after hearing new information on drainage and the sewerage system.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government is due to make a decision on whether to call in the scheme for a review by Monday, September 28.
A planning application can be called in – taking it out of the hands of the local authority – up to the point the council issues a formal decision notice.
Intervention by the Secretary of State Robert Jenrick would be unusual for an application for a relatively small scheme, and at such a late stage in the planning process.
However, Mr Jenrick has personal knowledge of the issues, as he attended a meeting in Collaton St Mary of villagers concerned about the plans during last year’s General Election campaign.
One of the requests for a call-in was from Roger Bristow, chair of the Collaton St Mary Residents’ Association. He said:
“The village is under threat.” In his letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Bristow set out a series of objections and argued that the council should not have accepted a second application which was almost identical to one it had refused and was the subject of an appeal. He argued that an objection from the local NHS, which asked for a contribution towards health costs because local services were already over-stretched, was of national importance.
The field is zoned for housing in a masterplan for the village adopted by the council in 2016 which sets out sites for 460 homes.
Objectors to the scheme have raised concern about the impact of the new homes and increased population on wildlife, flooding, traffic, pollution, road safety and public services. They say the ‘car boot’ development is being brought forward too early, and ‘brownfield’ sites should be built on before open land.
A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “Our proposal to develop 73 homes on land off Totnes Road is in line with the Collaton St Mary masterplan and was approved by councillors based on a positive recommendation from officers.
“We are confident that this development will be a high quality place for people to live and will deliver many benefits to the local community.”
The plans set out a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, with 30 per cent classed as affordable from a social housing provider.
An outline application from Bloor Homes for up to 100 homes on fields on the other side of the school and church with a new junction onto Totnes Road was approved in July.