EXTENSIVE talks have been held to reduce the duration of the next phase of roadworks needed to help deliver the Houghton Barton housing development in Newton Abbot.

Drivers have endured months of lengthy delays while construction work is underway.

The Houghton Barton development is just one of a number of ongoing road schemes which are causing constant frustration for motorists and affecting local businesses.

But there could be help on the horizon as initial estimates for a six-month road closure have been halved to three months.

Now in a statement issued by the highways authority Devon County Council, it has been announced that developers Bloor Homes has been working closely with Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council to explore how to carry out essential work on Howton Lane, near Seale Hayne, with ‘minimum disruption’.

As part of the scheme for more than 1,000 homes at Houghton Barton, the existing Howton Lane needs to be widened at its southern end.

This will include widening the road, as well as installing footways and utility service connections. Although further work will also be required at the junction with the A383 in future, all parties have agreed that this must wait until after the main A382 improvement scheme has been completed.

Following detailed discussions and feedback around community needs, Bloor Homes has agreed with the local authorities that work will not start until Monday 22 June, which has been timed to avoid any clash with the school exam period.

Initial estimates for a six-month closure have been halved to three months, with Bloor Homes committed to accelerating delivery of the scheme.

By widening the road first, it will be able to re-open the route as soon as possible.

Additional work, such as the development of footways and installation of streetlights will then follow.

Working during the better weather of the summer months also provides the best opportunity to make faster progress with construction, as winter weather would be more likely to add to the duration of the scheme.

Although Howton Lane will be closed from its junction with the A383 Ashburton Road to Farleigh Cottages, a temporary diversion will be in place for the duration of the scheme.

This diversion will initially be to the north of the town, via Bickington and Liverton, with the route signed along the A382, Staplehill Road, Perry Lane and Howton Road, with a one-way system in place at the northern end of Howton Lane and where Howton Road borders the Seale Hayne site.

During the later stages of the scheme, from around August, the diversion will switch to the south, via A383 Ashburton Road and A382 Bovey Tracey Road to connect to Staplehill Road.

The use of these diversion routes ensures there is no impact on the A382 upgrade at Forches Cross.

Cllr Jacqueline Fry, County Councillor for Newton Abbot North who has been campaigning on behalf of residents and businesses, said: ‘As a Devon County Councillor, my role is first and foremost to represent residents.

‘I have been firm in pressing all partners to be more considerate and more understanding of the daily reality for people who live and work here.

‘We must always ask ourselves when disruption tips from being inconvenient to becoming intolerable.

‘Partners have worked collaboratively to minimise the impact of this scheme.

'As a result, the duration of these works has been cut in half, and there is a clear commitment that Perry Lane will be opened as a one-way loop before Howton Lane closes, helping to protect residents from unnecessary disruption as much as possible.’

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: ‘We’d like to thank Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council for their positive approach that has seen us able to significantly reduce the duration of these essential works.

‘By working together, we’ve been able to plan the scheme to minimise disruption as much as possible while delivering important infrastructure improvements to support the Houghton Barton development.’

Teignbridge District Council Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Estates and Major Projects Cllr David Palethorpe said: ‘Teignbridge has worked hard with our partners to minimise the disruption caused by these essential works.

‘I would like to thank the public for their patience as we ensure vital infrastructure is delivered alongside much-needed new housing.

‘Thanks to expediency of these works, drivers will benefit from both Howton Lane and the A383 reopening by the end of September.’