Appeal against failed bid to build 140 homes

A developer is appealing against the rejection of a plan to build 140 homes on the edge of a Devon town.

Almost 600 people objected to the plans put forward by Landra Developments Ltd for the houses on fields in Ottery St Mary.

East Devon District Council planning committee members refused the plans in May, citing concerns ranging from traffic congestion to the impact on the sewage system and the loss of agricultural land.

The developer is promising 56 affordable homes as part of the development and says there is good access to the site and a "buffer" between existing houses on Claremont Field, and the new homes would be part of the plans.

In its refusal, the planning committee said the development would "negatively impact the rural setting of Ottery St Mary, extending urban form to the south of the existing settlement, which will have a significant adverse effect on the established rural local landscape character".

In the appeal papers the developer says the site is 750m (0.46 miles) from the town centre and "would provide future residents with access via foot to a range of facilities within the town's core" while also having a primary school 800m (0.5 miles) away.

Concerns over sewage capacity were also raised by planning committee members but the developer said it would be up to South West Water "to make the necessary network improvements to accommodate additional flows following the grant of planning permission".

The appeal is due to be heard over two days from 18 November.

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