A GOVERNMENT minister has been asked to intervene in the controversial decision to grant planning permission for new homes on the edge of Teignmouth.
Teignbridge planners approved 54 houses – including 40 per cent affordable – on a field adjoining Drake Avenue, despite strong opposition from local councillors and residents.
Now Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has requested the communities minister, Hazel Blears, to 'call-in' the plan and make the final decision.
In his letter, he pointed out that government policy had always been to deter repeat applications. The field had been consistently turned down for development use in the past.
The MP acted after representations from residents, county Cllrs Chris Bray and David Cox, district members Cllrs Ian Parkes and Terry Falcao, and Cllr Sylvia Russell, chairman of the town council planning committee.
Cllr Russell said she was 'delighted' at the news.
'It is good news which will be welcomed by the residents. I just hope the request is granted.'
Cllr Bray said the call in request had not been taken lightly.
'But the granting of planning permission for Drake Avenue against all the evidence, land protection policies and previous rejection by inspectors, has raised serious concerns for future building in Teignmouth.
'Effectively, it makes areas of great landscape value and coastal preservation area designations, worthless.'
Cllr Cox believed Teignbridge Council Development Control Committee was swayed by the affordable homes on offer.
'There is a desperate need for such homes, but it must be sensibly planned and sustainable, so that people have access to the services they need.
'The Inverteign site at Teignmouth, which is providing 23 homes for local families, is an example of a sustainable and plan-led development.
'The Drake Avenue proposal is unsustainable, ill-conceived, and will lead to gridlock on already over-used roads.'