A LEADING west country charity and a farmer are threatening to pull the plug if plans go ahead for 2,500 homes at Houghton Barton, on Newton Abbot's outskirts.

The proposed 195 hectares development would surround the former Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, now the home of Hannahs run by the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, as well as engulfing 450 acres of productive farmland.

The land has been identified in the Teignbridge Council Core Strategy Development Plan 2013-2033 which is entering its final stages of consultation.

A phased delivery of at least 2,500 homes, including affordable houses, is suggested, a proportion of self-build sites, gypsy and traveller pitches, a 430 place primary school, shops, community facilities, leisure centre and at least 20 hectares of employment land.

Hannah is recognised as a leader in providing education, care, medical and therapies to children and young people with physical, and learning disabilities.

It moved into Seale-Hayne, which was controversially closed by the University of Plymouth, more than two years ago, particularly choosing its location because of its green field outlook. The livestock and crops farm also plays its part in helping the youngsters.

Members of the Seale-Hayne Future Group were stunned when they discovered what was in the Core Strategy. For nearly eight years it fought to keep the former college, and 450 acres of its productive farmland, in educational use and food production.

There was delight when the buildings were bought by the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust and a local farmer had acquired the Seale-Hayne land to farm it.

The group's chairman Ian Goodwin said it accepted that limited commercial development of maybe up to 200 houses could be necessary to help finance the refurbishment of the historic buildings sadly neglected by the former owners.

'In November the district council released its Core Strategy Plan and it seems that without any consultation or notification to Hannahs, or to the farmer, the bulk of Seale-Hayne's estate was earmarked for development within the Houghton Barton "vision" of the council's Strategic Plan.

'If such development is encouraged by the council, Hannahs will lose the surrounding farmland and the partnership with the farm, both of which are already proving hugely beneficial in its work with the most disadvantaged in our community,' he said.

Mr Goodwin said these were the factors that convinced them to move to Seale-Hayne in the first place.

'The farmer will also lose his most productive fields along with his plans for expansion that have, unbelievably, just been approved by the council.

'Both Hannahs and the farmer confirm that they would probably leave the area if the current Strategic Plan was approved,' he said.

Mr Goodwin said the council seemed to have its head in the sand when the country was running out of land and green spaces fast.

He added that the group welcomed development, particularly if it enabled regeneration of one of the region's historic buildings and develops new business and employment.

'Blanket carpeting of houses, concrete and tarmac over green fields? No thank you. Use up the already ruined brown field land first,' he said.