PLANNING permission has been given to build two dormer bungalows in a field on the north-eastern edge of Nomansland.

Each house that Jane Price, who lives in the hamlet, is now allowed to construct will have three bedrooms, a garden and parking space for two cars.

They will be made with render and natural stone and have timber cladding and natural slate roofs. The doors and windows will be uPVC double-glazed.

They will be fenced off from the rest of the field and have porous stone driveways.

The new homes will be accessed from the unnamed road that runs roughly north to south through the hamlet and intersects the B3137.

The fact that Mid Devon District Council cannot show the government it has at least five years’ worth of land for new homes, known as a “five-year land supply”, contributed to the plans being successful.

“Whilst the proposal is outside of any defined settlement, taking the council’s five-year housing land supply calculations into consideration, in addition to the site being located in Nomansland which is considered a sustainable location, the proposal is supportable,” said a Mid Devon District Council spokesperson.

“The dwellings are considered to be of appropriate design which respect the character and appearance of the rural area, and it is not considered that the proposal will result in any unacceptable adverse impact in regard to highway safety, flood risk and drainage, residential amenity, ecology and biodiversity and the setting of the nearby listed building [The Ark].”

Cruwys Morchard Parish Council did not object to the application.

Mid Devon District Council received four letters from members of the public about the plans. Concerns raised included the land being designated as open countryside, whether there was a demand for housing, the road being narrow, and more.

“The application is on land designated as open countryside and is not supported by the local plan,” Molly Mayes said.

“There are many homes in the village for sale and have been for quite some time. Is there a need for any more houses?”

Dr P Britton and Mrs S Britton said jointly: “The lane is too narrow for two cars to pass and lacks any footpaths, forcing both vehicles and pedestrians to share the lane, which increases the risk of congestion and accidents.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

You can see the application on Mid Devon District Council’s website under reference 26/00292/FULL.