Proposals to delay submission of Teignbridge’s draft local plan, so as to give local people another opportunity to comment on changes being made to it, will be considered by next week’s Executive.

Changes to the plan are needed following detailed analysis of issues raised in the feedback from the local plan consultation held earlier this year which saw comments submitted by about 1,000 individuals and organisations.

Ahead of submission of the draft local plan for public inspection, a revised timetable is being proposed which recognises the further work that has been needed to address issues raised, ensure it is legally compliant and to achieve better outcomes for communities and the environment.

Among the issues which need further consideration are:

• The impact of the Markham’s Village development on the local and strategic transport network
• The impact of the Peamore development on the setting of Peamore House and other nearby heritage assets
• Objections to net-zero carbon requirements on new build dwellings
• Historic England objections to the potential impact of wind turbines on heritage assets
• Feedback from the Design Council and Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities suggesting improvements based on the national Design Code Pathfinder programme
• Adding the Houghton Barton and Bradmore District Design Code to the Local Plan to give it more weight and to allow people to comment on its proposals
• Updating our housing requirement which has reduced slightly to 720 homes per annum
• Developer challenges to the lack of new housing allocations in Teignmouth and Dawlish.

Executive Member for Planning Cllr Gary Taylor said it was important that further work was done to address some of the feedback received and to strengthen the Plan.

“We have said throughout the local plan process that we wanted to listen to local people and organisations and to get their input.  Once changes are made in response to the feedback, it is essential that local people are given a further opportunity to comment on any new evidence and the updated proposals. 

“Some of the issues raised are complex and so we have needed more time for research and analysis.  It is thought better to delay now while we undertake this work rather than push ahead and risk delays at the public examination stage.”

Details of proposed changes to the local plan will be presented to Full Council in the autumn along with consultation proposals.

The revised timetable means that examination in public by the planning inspectorate will not take place until next year.