Fears over Tavistock housing plan

Dormitory town worries

Concerns that Tavistock will become a dormitory town with lots of new homes on its outskirts and no links to the town centre were voiced as developers unveiled new plans for a potential 200 homes this week.

Devon-based Cavanna Homes was presenting its early doors plans to Tavistock Town Council’s development management and licensing committee for the first phase of 100 homes on New Launceston Road, which will be accessed by its existing Broadleigh Park estate, built in 2018.

The company, which has developed four “high quality” sites in Tavistock over the last two decades, said it had submitted a pre-application request to the planning authority – West Devon Borough Council – and should the scheme be supported in principle from officers, a planning application would follow in spring 2026.

It follows a change in national policy where planning authorities now have to look favourably on new sites, outside local plan areas, where housing could be in a sustainable location.

New government housing targets means that local authorities don’t have enough housing land for the next five years. In West Devon’s case it only has enough land for 2.5 years.

But town councillors have raised concerns about people living in new homes on the edge of town who work elsewhere, do their shopping in out of town supermarkets, and don’t contribute to the town itself.

Cllr Paul Ward said developments like the one being proposed could turn Tavistock into a dormitory town.

“I would like you to think about that and community facilities,” he told Cavanna. “This site is quite a long way from the town centre and our public transport is not great, there is only one town bus that does a one and half loop of the town.

“I am worried that we are building a lot of dog kennels around the town and not making a community.”

Mayor of the town, Cllr Steve Hipsey, urged the developers to provide safe routes to school and others worried about oversubscribed doctors surgeries.

Cavanna representatives said that pressure on healthcare from an increased population was often the number one concern of people who engaged in the consultation process over new housing and the company was sympathetic to that.

Tavistock residents will be asked what community facilities or services they want improved under a section 106 legal agreement between the developers and council, should planning permission be granted.

The company is looking at more than 30 per cent of the homes being affordable. These will be at either 80 per cent of open market rent or 50 per cent for social rented properties.

There is also expected to be shared ownership options, where part of the house is owned by the tenant and the other by a registered provider. 

The scheme will include large areas of public open space and as many hedgerows, banks and trees as possible will be retained to screen the site.

One councillor suggested the company consider setting up a fund which local groups could apply to for grants like South West Water had done.