Developers urged ‘build for need not greed’

But councillors approve 40 homes at Kingskerswell

Developers planning 40 new homes on the outskirts of Newton Abbot have been urged: “Build them for need and not greed.” 

Persimmon Homes has been given permission to make a start on land at Langford Bridge, next door to Buckland Athletic Football Club at Kingskerswell.

But Cllr Paul Parker (South Devon Alliance, Ambrook) told fellow members of Teignbridge Council’s planning committee that the plans would not deliver enough of the smaller properties he believes the community needs.

“It’s the wrong type of housing – the wrong sizes,” he said. “Let’s build what we want and not what the developer wants.”

Persimmon already had outline permission for the homes, and came back to the committee for approval of the details of the scheme, which is part of the giant ‘NA3’ project to build 450 homes south of the town.

Persimmon representative Robert Clark said the development would help meet local housing needs, with eight homes for social housing and local people getting first refusal on properties for a limited period. Eight of the 40 homes would be classed as ‘affordable.’

Cllr Phil Bullivant (Con, Bradley) backed the application and said its use of ground source heat pumps would be a ‘first’ for Teignbridge.

But other councillors questioned the mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, as well as the way lighting on the site would affect sensitive wildlife.

South Devon Alliance member Liam Mullone, speaking as a member of the public, said: “I regard this whole thing as an environmental crime, and my party regards this planning decision as in itself illegal.”

Cllr Jane Taylor (South Devon Alliance, Kerswell-with-Coombe) said eight affordable homes – 20 per cent of the total – was the ‘absolute minimum.’

She went on: “I don’t feel like thanking Persimmon. I might thank them if they provided 30 per cent, but not the absolute minimum.”

Cllr Taylor called for the scheme to be rejected, claiming it doesn’t provide enough affordable homes and fails to meet the needs of elderly people or first-time buyers.

But her proposal was defeated and the committee gave the scheme the go-ahead.