Here is a summary of the situation with proposals for significant housing developments in our town:
Holne Road – REMOVED* Burrington Estates applied for planning permission to build 30 dwellings on land near Holne Road. This application was unanimously rejected by Dartmoor National Park on 4 September 2020 because there was no affordable housing provision on site, and the development would provide no significant over-riding environmental or community benefit. The Council’s response objecting to this application can be read here.
*Dartmoor National Park Authority have subsequently decided to remove this allocation from the local plan. They are now looking for more suitable alternative locations for development in the parish.
Barn Park – APPROVED Following the decision of Dartmoor National Park to approve planning application 0615/18 for 28 dwellings at land west of Barn Park at their Development Management Committee meeting held on 7 January 2022 read our response here: DNP DMC 07.01.22 App 061518 – 14.01.21
Oaklands Road – Coworth Homes are proposing a development on a green field north of Oaklands Road, with access via Glebelands and Oaklands Park. The development would be 51 two and three-bedroom dwellings including 18 affordable homes. This land is not currently allocated for housing in the Dartmoor National Park Local Plan. Therefore, the National Park would have to first agree to designate this land as suitable for housing before any planning application can be submitted and considered.
Lower Mills, Buckfast Road – APPROVED Buckfast Abbey have applied for planning permission for: Mixed use development involving: demolition of community hall, part demolition of existing factory buildings and retail floorspace; construction (through the conversion of existing buildings and new build) of a care village (use class C2) comprising 124 extra care units, a 60 bed care home, a 32 bed dementia care home and a communal facilities hub; change of use of former factory building for the re-provision of a 230 sq.m (GIA) community hall (use class D1) and extended retail provision providing 120 sq.m (GIA) of additional floorspace; and associated open space, landscaping, car parking and access works. This has now been approved and work is going ahead.
The Abbey has assured the Town Council that the new Buckfast village hall will be prioritised and be ready before demolition of the existing hall takes place. The Town Council’s response can be read here.