Hundreds of objections fail to stop North Devon homes plan

Fremington fields will be developed

Infrastructure and environmental concerns of more than 700 residents have failed to stop a controversial scheme for 101 homes at Fremington being approved.

North Devon Council’s planning committee, which is under pressure to increase the number of housing developments in the district to meet new government targets, has given the go-ahead for the scheme by Pearce Construction for land off Chilpark.

A previous application for the agricultural land, which is outside the development boundary, was withdrawn in 2023 and this was an amended plan to include 20,000 square metres of public open space which would deliver biodiversity benefits, said planning officers.

The homes will be located next to the existing Chilpark development and surrounded by existing woodland. Thirty properties will be classified “affordable”; a mix of social and low cost open market housing.

A petition of 90 names against the plans was submitted to the council and 736 letters of representation.

At the planning meeting at Barnstaple Rugby Club on Wednesday, a number of people spoke for and against the development.

There were concerns over the loss of productive land and wildlife habitats for bats and otters and the impact on the nearby Tarka Trail, Taw/Torridge Estuary site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and nesting grounds of Home Farm Marsh County Wildlife Site.

Both Natural England and the Devon Wildlife Trust had raised issues over the proposed development.

Health surgeries, roads and schools and the sewerage system were struggling to cope with extra demand from new developments, claimed objectors including Fremington Parish Council, and it would impact existing residents.

One said: “I believe we have more than enough development in the area with poor infrastructure to support it. There are waiting lists for doctors and dentists etc.

“The roads are in an awful state as is the traffic during commute times. Adding more pressure to this will not help matters and will only make things worse. That’s without losing more and more green space, not everyone wants a to live in large urban areas and are gradually being forced into this.”

Some 33 conditions were added to the planning consent, which planning officers recommended for approval.

They said the council couldn’t demonstrate a five-year housing supply. In January it was at 97 per cent of the five-year requirement.

Changes in national policy means that 1,300 homes are needed across North Devon and Torridge each year. Previously it was 860.

Councils now have to look more favourably on planning applications for housing that may not have otherwise been considered appropriate, such as those outside development boundaries.

The applicants said the construction of the homes would provide jobs for local people.

As part of the agreement with the council for permission, they will contribute nearly £800,000 to local education and school transport, £69,000 to healthcare, £185,000 for park, sport and recreation and £10,00 towards allotments.

Planning conditions include erecting interpretation boards on the site and homeowner information packs to inform future residents of the importance of the SSSI, the overwintering bird population and the potential impacts of dogs not being appropriately controlled.

District and county councillor for Fremington Frank Biederman (Lib Dem) said he was disappointed by the decision as he did not know how the infrastructure would cope.

He said the council should have obtained an updated independent report of its land supply situation before granting permission.

He thanked residents who attended the meeting or made representations and said: “I am truly sorry that we could not stop it”.