A PLANNING Appeal to determine an Outline application for the erection of up to 65 dwellings, public open space, ancillary works and associated infrastructure, including access on Land at NGR 282727 100936 Higher Road, Crediton, will, due to the coronavirus pandemic, be heard by exchange of correspondence.

The Appeal against the Refusal of the Planning Application (Application No: 18/00786/MOUT ) Ref No. APP/Y1138/W/19/3242101, which was determined by Mid Devon District Council, has been submitted by the appellant, Mr Neal Jillings of Place Land LLP.

Mrs Jenny Clifford, Head of Planning and Regeneration at Mid Devon District Council has written to parties concerned and explained that the Appeal had been lodged under Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

She wrote regarding a Change of Appeal procedure, explaining: “I am writing to inform you that the above appeal will now follow the Written Representations procedure.

“The procedure to be followed is set out in Part 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) Regulations 2009.

“Any documentation regarding this appeal can be viewed at our offices at Phoenix House, Tiverton or on the Council’s planning online view and tracking service via: planning.middevon.gov.uk/onlineapplications/

“Any comments previously made will remain on file and be taken into account.

“We have forwarded all the representations made to us on the application to the Planning Inspectorate and the appellant.

“These will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal.

“Please note that any representations you submit to the Planning Inspectorate will be copied to the appellant and this Local Planning Authority.

HOW TO COMMENT

“If you wish to make comments, modify or withdraw your previous representation, you can do so on line at: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk or by writing to Nadia Hussain, The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3D Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN quoting the above appeal reference. You will need to provide three copies.

“All comments must be received by Monday, July 6, 2020. Any comments submitted after this date will not usually be considered and will be returned. The Planning Inspectorate does not acknowledge representations; all representations must quote the appeal reference.

“You can get a copy of one of the Planning Inspectorate’s ‘Guide to taking part in planning appeals’ booklets free-of-charge from GOV.UK : https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/taking-part-in-a-planning-listed-building-orenforcement- appeal .

When made, the decision will be published online at: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk .

ABOUT THE PLAN

Last year CPRE Devon welcomed MDDC’s decision to refuse the plan for new homes on the edge of Crediton, but which are actually in Sandford parish and outside the Mid Devon District Council Crediton housing settlement boundary.

The application was to develop 3.6 hectares of agricultural land and paddocks to the north of Crediton and additional highways works to provide access.

The site is designated as open countryside and is just south of an Ancient Woodland (Long Plantation).

Mid Devon District Council had received a long list of objections to the application, including a comprehensive letter prepared by CPRE Devon’s planning consultant.

ACTION GROUP

In 2018 a group of residents living on or near Higher Road formed an action group to oppose the plan.

The planning application for the site, which runs along Higher Road, joining Alexandra Road junction at one end and finishing near George Hill at the other was an altered plan previously submitted by the applicant, Place Land LLP.

Local residents raised concerns about the potential amount of extra traffic, strain on infrastructure, schooling, environmental issues and doctors’ surgeries.

Originally the plan was to build 75 properties.

One of the plan options was to close a section of Higher Road and divert traffic on a new road through the site, if approved, also downgrading the section for pedestrian/cycle routes only.

The group was formed following a meeting of Sandford Parish Council on June 7, 2019, when a number of residents who felt similarly about the development decided to take action for themselves.

Mid Devon planners refused the application because the site was outside the current settlement limit boundaries, is in open countryside and is not currently allocated for development.

ELEVATED NATURE

Planners also said that the elevated nature of the site, the rural character of the area, development of an agricultural field to include highway or removing existing hedging and trees to widen sections of road would have a harmful impact to the visual amenity of the locality.

It was also noted that the field provides a visual relief in addition to a physical barrier between the built form of Crediton and Long Plantation, which is an Ancient Woodland.

It was believed that the plan would have a harmful effect on the non-designated heritage asset of Creedy Park.

It was considered that the residential development was not in a sustainable location for access by pedestrians given the very steep nature of highway routes from the application site to the Town Centre.

It was considered that there was insufficient information provided regarding air quality and understood that no Section 106 agreement had been completed.

OBJECTION

CPRE Devon’s Director Penny Mills said following the decision: “Our members in Mid Devon asked us to submit an objection to these outline plans and we were happy to do so.

“The proposal was for ‘up to 65’ new houses and associated infrastructure, which would have had a damaging impact on the rural nature of this area outside the market town of Crediton.

“Our planning consultant prepared a very comprehensive set of objections which we are pleased to see were taken into account.

“Too much of Devon’s countryside is being lost forever to housing and great care needs to be taken when deciding proposals like this one.

“We very much welcome Mid Devon District Council’s decision to refuse planning.”