THREE Gypsy and Traveller pitches have been given the go-ahead on a plot at the edge of Tiverton.

The application for the trio of pitches on Last Meadow on Uplowman Road was waived through by planning officers at Mid Devon District Council.

Submitted by Sir Ian Amory, on behalf of the trustees of Chettiscombe Estate, also in Tiverton, the plan sought permission for three pitches, which would accommodate a static caravan, a touring caravan, a day room comprising of a utility and bathroom, along with a parking and turning area and grassed amenity space.

The land’s lawful use is as a Gypsy and Traveller site and the site has historically been occupied as such, in conjunction with previous planning permissions “which permit a total of three static caravans and two touring caravans”.

“The site will utilise the existing vehicular access onto Uplowman Road and will be laid out with an access track along the northern boundary, with a landscaped strip alongside the access track, for biodiversity net gain,” documents submitted with the plans stated.

The proposal was supported by Tiverton Town Council, although some residents did object. A large proportion of the objections related to fears about the prospects of nearby residents being able to sell their respective properties if the nearby site was reoccupied.

A report by a Mid Devon District Council planning officer stated: “The proposal demonstrates that it will not cause harm to the character or appearance of the area.

“Close proximity to the existing community of Fairfax Heath and Braid Park and associated public open space and play facilities will not be isolating.

“There would be no harm to highway safety or biodiversity. Space for parking, refuse and recycling will be provided to a standard that is policy compliant.”

The submission from the agent also suggested the site was linked to a 700-home development on Blundells Road that had been approved in 2017, and so had precedent for being suitable for Gypsy and Traveller communities.

“This planning application seeks to provide the Gypsy and Traveller pitch provision required by [the Blundells Road application], through the delivery of three pitches on the land at Last Meadow,” the documents stated.

“It is the case that a pitch location has not previously been identified or secured in association with [the Blundells Road application] and that whilst the proposal would be an off-site provision, in that it falls outside of the redline of [the Blundells Road application], it would be located on land within the TIV1 allocation and is within the settlement boundary of Tiverton.”

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The application was approved on February 24 by planning officers.