BROADHEMPSTON residents are fighting a development they claim ‘threatens the character and heritage’ of the village.
Broadhempston Residents’ Association claims Cavanna Homes’ plan for a 28-house development on land next to Ashwick Court would be the largest single development to have occurred in the village’s 1,500-year history.
It says the development, in a field on the edge of Broadhempston’s conservation area, would ‘radically alter’ the village’s shape, described in Teignbridge Council’s conservation area appraisal as ‘one of its basic characteristics’ which ‘should not be eroded further by backland development’.
There are 33 listed buildings including the Grade I listed church within the conservation area.
The association claims the plan ‘threatens the village’s medieval linear layout’.
Spokesman Dan Stevens said: “This estate-style development is too big and wholly out of character with the village’s small scale and ancient layout.
“It will destroy the essential nature of a settlement which has grown slowly and organically since the fall of the Roman Empire.”
The plans have generated more than 120 objections, most of which raise the issue of traffic in an area with limited public transport, an already full school, no doctor’s surgery and ‘notoriously slow’ broadband speeds which would inhibit people working from home.
Devon County Council’s consultation response as the highways authority said: “Sustainable travel options beyond the village are limited, which will encourage trips by car. Even taking this into account, the level of vehicle generation is considered to be low and able to be accommodated.”
Broadhempston Parish Council has called for the application to be rejected on the grounds it fails to comply with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework.
The parish council said: “Broadhempston is of particular significance with regard to its historic environment and as a consequence most of the village is within a designated conservation area. It is our submission a development of this scale and character would seriously conflict with and be damaging to the existing character and appearance of this area.”
A spokesman for Cavanna Homes emphasised it is an outline planning application for up to 28 dwellings with all matters reserved except for access.
She said: “This type of application is limited in its detail so planning officers, locals and developers can work together to produce a development designed to best meet the requirements of a local community. Teignbridge Council’s draft Core Strategy 2013-2033 has identified Broadhempston as a village suitable for sustainable development.”
The 20 proposed market properties include four three-bedroom houses and 16 houses with four-plus bedrooms.
There are also social rented housing proposals for four two-bedroom houses and intermediate housing proposals for four two-bedroom houses.