A GOVERNMENT inspector has criticised Teignbridge Council for the way it set out its refusal reasons when turning down British Ceramic Tiles and Temple Estates Ltd outline application to build up to 92 mixed housing units behind the BCT factory in Old Newton Road, Heathfield.

Allowing the appeal, the inspector Pete Drew said the way the refusal and substantive reasons were set out made it difficult to know which policies were at issue in relation to each substantive reason.

'I anticipate the appellant has had the same problem, which is unprecedented in my experience,' he said.

Mr Drew said reasons should be complete, precise and specific, and that at appeal stage each should be substantiated by reference to the development plan, so that the appellant and, where appropriate, an inspector was not left to second guess what the council was concerned about.

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