Next phase of housing project rejected

The next phase of a new town in Devon which would have seen 150 houses built has been rejected by councillors.

The Wolborough Barton project on the outskirts of Newton Abbot is expected to eventually have 1,200 properties built by Vistry Homes and Baker Estates.

Teignbridge District Council's planning committee rejected the latest part of the plan for 150 homes of various sizes and also a proposed public open space and play area.

At one point in the meeting councillor Andrew MacGregor said: "When did we start settling for mediocrity?"

The committee heard Newton Abbot Town Council had already been in favour of the plans, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

MacGregor said it was important the proposed site was properly explored, and said: "We should insist that not one spade goes into the ground until the archaeological work is completed.

"Without that, we're accepting the fact that we are not really bothered about it at all."

Councillor Jackie Hook voiced her concerns about the way ground and surface water was managed, along with issues over play areas and pathways.

The council's head of development management Ian Perry said the need for homes in Teignbridge was pressing.

"We have a need for housing delivery, and we are not delivering," he said.

In the meeting, he revealed Teignbridge could not meet current government targets to provide land for housing.

He said: "At the front of our minds should be housing delivery. We've got a waiting list of people desperate for housing."

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