Brixham homes plan rejected despite 'NIMBY' claim

Cheers and applause in Brixham Theatre as result is announced

Green fields on the outskirts of Brixham will stay green despite developers accusing Torbay Council of pandering to residents who just don’t want building in their back yards.

Applicant Peloton Land Ltd wants to build up to 77 houses on fields off Copythorne Road, but had their proposals thrown out by the council's planning committee.

Councillors had concerns about traffic to and from the site, and said the fields are too valuable as a piece of countryside.

“One fact trumps all others,” said ward councillor Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton). “The protection of the best parts of our natural environment is of great importance, and this is simply not an acceptable development.”

The meeting was held at Brixham Theatre to bring the debate closer to concerned locals, and around 100 people turned up to listen.

They heard Andrew Rowe, on behalf of the developer, deliver a powerful case in favour of building. He said the homes would help to meet Torbay’s critical need for housing.

“We’re here because of the housing crisis,” he said. “We’re here because over 1,600 households in Torbay are in need of an affordable home. We’re here because 132 households need an affordable home in Brixham.”

He said 27 of the homes on the plot would be affordable.

“There is no Plan B,” he said. “There is no option but to grant suitable planning permissions now. Brixham has a pressing need for housing, and this is clearly in the public interest.”

And he warned the council that if they turned the homes down, the developer would appeal.

“This cannot be successfully defended when we appeal,” he told the meeting. “It is likely to lead to a cost award against the council.

“You were elected to serve the whole community, not just the NIMBYs.”

Planning officers told the committee that the proposal went against the local development plan, and would harm the landscape.

Objectors said it would be an ’urban sprawl’ and Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) said a previous, unconnected application involving land at the nearby golf club had been dismissed at appeal amid concerns about the safety of the narrow roads in the area.

Cllr Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary) argued that the site was an ‘outstanding’ piece of countryside and added: “It’s not Brixham’s fault that we haven’t produced the housing needed in Paignton and Torquay.

“And I want to make a statement that I believe in protecting our areas of outstanding natural beauty.”

There was cheering and applause in the theatre as members voted unanimously to reject the plan.