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, has been dismissed.

The Appeal, which was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and which was heard by exchange of correspondence, was heard by Inspector H Porter, following a site visit on July 15.

In the concluding remarks to the dismissal of the appeal, the Inspector said: “…the support for the delivery of new homes should not be at the expense of the character and appearance of an area or the countryside. In this case, I have found there would be very serious environmental harms in respect of character and appearance and the countryside and air quality. The conflict with the development plan and emerging LPR policies, as well as the Framework carries very significant weight against the proposal and indicates that the environmental dimension of sustainable development would not be satisfied.”

He added: “Ancient woodlands are irreplaceable habitats, which are included in the list of protected areas listed under Framework paragraph 11 d) i), footnote 6. To my mind, the harm in relation to Long Plantation provides a clear reason for refusing the development proposed. Even putting that aside and applying paragraph 11 d) ii), I conclude that the adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.”

The Appeal against the Refusal of the Planning Application had been submitted by the appellant, Mr Neal Jillings of Place Land LLP.

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.

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.

The Inspector in his dismissal also highlighted air quality, highways issues, character and appearance, landscape and visual reasons, compliance with development plan policy, planning balance and access to services and facilities.