Newton Abbot farmer Anthony Rew has withdrawn a controversial planning application for two homes at a prominent beauty spot in the town.

He had faced vocal opposition for the scheme to build upmarket properties on Wolborough Hill.

Hundreds of objections had been lodged and the district's conservation officer, Richard Bland, said the project would have 'profound implications' for the Wolborough Hill Conservation Area.

This week Teignbridge Council confirmed Mr Rew's application had been withdrawn but a spokesman could not expand.

Neither was Mr Rew's agent, Neil Emery, available. A note from him to the planning department, lodged in the application file, said: 'Further to our brief conversation... I can confirm that our client has instructed that the application for two detached houses, Wolborough Barton, Newton Abbot, should be withdrawn.'

Mr Rew's bigger plans for the area, located within the so-called 'southern option' for potential growth, were mistakenly revealed on Teignbridge Council's website earlier this year.

In August it emerged that Mr Rew had major house building ambitions for the open countryside south of the town.

The plans could include a new road linking Wolborough Hill, Decoy Country Park and the town centre.

The revelation came shortly after it was announced that the proposed Kingskerswell bypass was to get £500,000 of Teignbridge taxpayers' cash, partly to promote the 'southern option' for commercial and residential development in the direction of Wolborough via the creation of a new junction at Aller.

The district authority has already paid Mr Rew £100,000 for land next to Decoy Industrial Estate to allow expansion.

Mr Rew had hoped to use the proceeds from the two Wolborough houses to fund what he described as the 'masterplanning' for his other schemes.

Teignbridge Council will next week launch a public consultation area on growth having prepared its new 'core strategy' in preparation for the 16,000 new homes the district is said to need.