by Sue Read

WORRIES about flooding, access and traffic have been raised regarding a planning application to build up to 60 homes on land off Pitt Hill, Crediton. 

The outline application has been lodged with Mid Devon District Council by Mr Ben Lee c/o Mr Mark Scoot of Brixham for 1.1 ha of land described as adjacent Brookdale, Threshers, Hollacombe on the edge of Crediton where, until recently, horses had been kept. 

This land is in Crediton Hamlets Parish Council boundary but, as a neighbouring authority, Crediton Town Council will be looking at this application at its meeting on Tuesday, July 18. 

The plan says that while it is 1.1 ha, there is less development land because of “biodiversity constraints”.

It says: “The design has been informed by the existing site constraints of topography, levels and linkage to the existing road.”

The hedge along Pitt Hill would be kept with “minimal visibility spays for the new entrance.”

The supporting information says: “The layout has an organic feel with roads having a sinuous arrangement with the dwellings sitting parallel. This creates interesting vistas through the site with gaps allowing views across the site and to the wider area.”

Sixty dwellings are proposed with 14 flats that would look like houses, each property having two parking spaces with the majority of parking within their curtilage. 

The new homes would be two storey or three storeys where ground levels change. Any three storey properties would be cut into the site and step up to two storeys at the back.  

Among objections so far are fears of flooding further down the stream, as has happened in the past on Westernlea, plus more traffic being added to an area that is already a problem at main school times.