A recurring theme of responses in the local plan consultation are questions relating to why development needs to take place on green space.

Notwithstanding that we have more than 1,000 households in need of a home to rent or buy, some people appear not to want any more houses built.  Objections increase in relation to possible sites that will result in the loss of green space.

Although most people want green space preserved, the council has no option but to identify sufficient sites to meet the Government’s requirement for land to build 751 homes a year in Teignbridge and this means including some greenspace sites.

In identifying the site options being consulted on until 9 August every effort was made to minimise the number of greenfield sites identified for comment.  Land available for development was prioritised in a three step process to ensure all opportunities for using previously developed brownfield land and land within existing town/village locations will be utilised ahead of greenfield land. 

Step 1 was to maximise the use of brownfield land, protecting undeveloped land and trying to co-locate people, jobs, services and sustainable travel links.

Step 2 was to focus the majority of development in the district’s largest settlements where new residents would benefit from the greatest access to healthcare, education, shops, sustainable transport links and other essential services.

Step 3 identified proportional growth of some villages which have a basic level of service provision and where housing provision would support neighbourhood facilities without overburdening them.

Steps 2 and 3 were taken because we only have available brownfield land to provide approximately 475 homes.

“To meet the government’s 751 houses a year target, we have to identify sites on greenfield land while also looking for every opportunity to develop brownfield or other urban redevelopment sites” said Executive Member for Planning, Cllr Gary Taylor.

“Failure to identify sufficient sites to meet the government targets would result in the Local Plan not being judged ‘sound’.  This would mean that in the future, if the Council were to refuse planning permission on land not allocated for development in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan, a developer would be likely to win approval through an appeal”.

Cllr Taylor is urging the public to read the Local Plan site options documentation currently available - and to respond to the consultation before the closing date on the 9th August.

“For those people who are unable to look at the documents on line, paper copies are available to read in libraries, and at town and parish council offices - as well as at Teignbridge’s office’s at Forde House. The Local Plan will set where development takes place over the next 20 years - please do take part in the consultation if you possibly can”.