Plans resubmitted for 200 homes next to former power station

Plans have been resubmitted to develop land near Yelland Quay along the Taw Estuary for 200 homes and a medical centre after they were withdrawn last November.

Devonshire Homes says it has addressed concerns about flooding and ecology raised by North Devon Council’s planning department and people who took part in a consultation.

Despite the council having enough sites to deliver housing over the next five years, the developers say weight should be given to their plans as the government wants to boost housing supply.

The land is next to a controversial 250-unit waterfront resort on the former Yelland power station which was approved by a planning inspector in 2022.

North Devon planners had refused it for its “lack of local-needs housing and detrimental impact on the landscape and local infrastructure” but the inspector found no compelling reasons to refuse it as the site is allocated in the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan.

However, Devonshire Homes wants to build on land outside the development boundary.

it says Yelland has been identified as a sustainable location for significant levels of development, as seen by recent planning approvals and this proposal has been planned as an extension to that new community.

The land, currently used as a paddock and grassland surrounding Sandbanks Business Park, is in demand as the team behind the White Cross Offshore Wind Farm project wants to build a substation there. The ultimate decision will lie with the landowner about how it is developed if consent is granted for both schemes.

Sixty affordable homes are included in the proposals, which also includes commercial and community space across the 13 hectares of land.

A cafe, ice cream kiosk and bike hire could be included, as the site is next to the Tarka Trail and includes the former railway station where cottages are  proposed.

A woodland park forms part of the plans as well as a village green entrance to provide “a sense of arrival and contribute to placemaking”.

Devonshire Homes intends to install a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) to prevent safe from flooding without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

“A residents’ management company will be provided to ensure the open spaces are well maintained, environments that are likely to be a source of pride for residents,” it said.

The company said this encouraged a sense of ownership and responsibility, thus discouraging crime.

The closing date for people to give the council their opinion about the plans is Friday 1 November.