Plans lodged for five new homes on grazing land at Ashford

Plans have been lodged for five new homes at Ashford near Braunton by building on grazing land on the outskirts of the village.

Pearce Construction has applied for permission to develop the half a hectare of grazing land between existing properties The Linhay and Allwinds on Grattan Lane.

Ashford currently has around 100 homes, a village hall, church, garden centre, farm shop and café and is set between Barnstaple and Braunton.

The proposals are for one two-bedroom property and two each of three and four-bed homes in the style of chalet bungalows with first floor accommodation in the roof space to reflect the character of the surrounding development.

There is no indication the properties will be labelled as ‘affordable’ and the plans say they are ‘designed to meet the local market requirements’.

The site is outside the permitted development boundary in the Local Plan but may be considered if it is in a sustainable location because North Devon Council doesn’t have enough land for housing in its local plan for the next five years.

More than 1,300 homes have to be built each year in Torridge and North Devon following new government housing targets, an increase of around 600.

Developers have already sought pre-application advice from planning officers and made amendments to the layout.

North Devon Council will consider the plans at a future date.