CONTROVERSIAL plans for up to 51 homes off land at Goodleigh Road in Barnstaple are due to be decided on next week.

Wainhomes (South West) Holdings Limited has already had one application for 182 homes at the same site rejected earlier this year.

It has since re-submitted an application for 62 homes which was then reduced further to 51.

And the plans are set to be decided by North Devon Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

The application was previously refused due to its impact on the landscape, appearance of the area and surrounded listed buildings.

But the council’s planning officers are recommending approval of the scheme on the grounds that the impact of the scheme has been reduced through a lower number of houses.

A report prepared on behalf of the developer said: “This application has been amended from a previous scheme which was refused at committee and subsequently at appeal. It has taken into account the comments made by the inspector with regards to the potential impact on heritage assets, both designated and non-designated, and has also taken into account the areas of common ground between the local planning authority and the applicant.

The report continued: “Furthermore it has been demonstrated that the degree of harm resulting from the revised scheme has been greatly reduced, to retain the rural backdrop to the listed buildings and retain their prominence within the local landscape.”

Refusal has been recommended by Barnstaple Town Council but no concerns have been raised by highways officers, the Environment Agency, Natural England or South West Water.

However dozens of letters of objection have been sent to the council over concerns such as increased traffic, the effect on wildlife, the density of the housing and parking provision.

But planning officer Matt Brown said in a report prepared for councillors that the “balance has shifted” and that approval is recommended.

“It is concluded that the development would result in limited impacts on the setting of the landscape setting of Barnstaple and Gorwell House, the other heritage assets, the rural character of the area and the loss of some agricultural land,” he said.