THE possible building of more than 40 homes in Exmouth remains in the balance.

That is after East Devon District Council’s planning committee decided on Tuesday, March 28 that it needs a closer look at the planned development site on Douglas Avenue.

The developer, Littleham 2010 Ltd, proposes to build 44 homes in the area, 11 of which would be classed as “affordable”.

Plans put forward eight years ago for development on Douglas Avenue were rejected by the planning inspectorate due to the adverse visual impact of the housing – that issue was repeated recently by residents, who slammed the “inappropriate” effect on the landscape, the “unacceptable” pressure on NHS services, and the increased danger on nearby roads.

Part of the plans involved demolishing a home to provide easier access for vehicles to the site, which Conservative councillor Bruce de Saram said was “not acceptable,” while Liberal Democrat Cllr Steve Gazzard called the idea “crazy”.

 This was due to the narrow nature of the road, and residents at the meeting warned of crashes nearby if approval is given.

The developer promised to provide funding to mitigate the additional pressure on NHS services as a result of an increased number of residents, as well as paying for the planting of hedgerows and trees. 

An agent on behalf of Littleham insisted that concerns had been appropriately addressed, and that this was a development that would provide “much-needed housing” for the district.

Independent Cllr Mike Howe once again called South West Water’s competence into question amid continued sewage issues in the area, and he was joined by several colleagues in fearing that this problem will be made worse by another 44 homes. 

Developers pay money to South West Water to provide improved infrastructure for more homes, but Lib Dem’s Cllr Eileen Wragg said the company is happy to “retain their rights, but not their obligations”.

Green Cllr Olly Davey, meanwhile, questioned the lack of transport links to the development which would cause an increase in traffic.

As the highway authority, Devon County Council made no objection that the nearby roads are unsuitable for further development, and East Devon is less able to fight off housing developments due to its lack of a five-year housing land supply.

It was recommended that the application be deferred so that the committee can go and take a closer look at the site before making its decision.

This recommendation was unanimously passed, and the committee will revisit the application at a later date after absorbing more information.

Rob Kershaw