A PROPOSED multi-million pound mixed development on the Cardew Tea Pottery site in Newton Road, Bovey Tracey, has been dismissed on appeal. At a three-day public inquiry in Old Forde House, Newton Abbot, last month, Strategic Land Partnerships appealed against Teignbridge Council's refusal of outline permission. The company had wanted to build 115 flats and houses, a new smaller pottery and tearoom, car and coach parking, new vehicular access and a new roundabout on Newton Road. But Colin Ball, an inspector for the Planning Inspectorate, found that the development as put forward would undermine local housing and settlement policy to an unacceptable extent. He found there was a convincing case for housing development in this location. He reported: 'Other housing sites in Bovey Tracey are unlikely to be deliverable for several years against a background of fast-rising demand. 'Those currently under consideration are all greenfield sites. This proposal would make the best and most effective use of scarce previously-developed land in a potentially suitable location, a key policy objective in relation to the delivery of housing. 'The site relates reasonably well to town centre facilities and local employment sites and it would provide much-needed open market housing and a good proportion of affordable housing for local people.' Mr Ball, who considered the company's offer of 40 per cent affordable housing was a fair one, said keeping an employment use on the site would secure local jobs in a mixed-use development, another key policy objective. The improvements in public transport, cycle routes and sports provision would also benefit the wider community. But Mr Ball said that not all the site fell within the definition of previously-developed land, so the development of the southern part of the site was not justified. 'It would effectively extend the built-up area of Bovey Tracey into the countryside for which there is no policy support,' he said, describing pedestrian access to the town centre as potentially dangerous and poor. Mr Ball added that this would discourage walking as a primary means of travel, which meant the proposal would not fully accord with the policy for sustainable development objectives. 'Notwithstanding the advantages of the proposed development I consider that, on balance, the scheme as submitted would not fully meet local and national policy objectives relating to the location of new housing and the use of previously-developed land. 'In my view, the objections are such that the undoubted benefits of the proposal do not outweigh the conflict with national policy, the development plan and emerging policies intended to promote sustainable development,' said Mr Ball.
