Residents join conservation charity to fight new homes in North Devon village

The residents of Westleigh have joined forces with conservation charity Devon CPRE to oppose plans for nine new homes.

This week, some of the 100 residents of the tiny settlement near Instow have been carrying out a traffic survey as part of their bid to prevent plans lodged by Christie Devon Estates from becoming a reality.

The application seeks to build a mixture of two to four-bedroom new homes on land next to the village hall - planning documents lodged with North Devon Council say it will help meet local housing needs.

But residents say the construction phase alone will ‘cause havoc’ in the settlement of 69 homes, alleging it will threaten the precarious existence of the community’s World War One era village hall, as well as a Grade-II-listed thatched dwelling known as Rock Cottage.

They say it will result in the destruction of an established Devon bank hedge, a habitat frequented by 10 species of bat, four of them endangered.

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Westleigh is not officially designated as a village does have a village hall, a pub and a church.

Residents are working in shifts until Thursday (August 7) to carry out a traffic survey of the narrow lane leading to the proposed development site because they say traffic details were not submitted with the initial outline planning proposal.

Devon CPRE has submitted its own objection to the council, citing the removal of an ancient hedgerow, which contributes to the ‘rural character and historic field patterns of Westleigh’ and the impacts on Rock Cottage among the reasons why the scheme should be refused.

Above: The existence of the WW1 era Westleigh Village hall could be jeopardised by the plans, it is claimed. Credit: Brian Lees

Westleigh Parish Council called an extraordinary meeting for the whole village with the sole purpose of discussing the application and has since submitted its own letter of objection.

Chris MacMenigall, who lives in Westleigh and is a member of Devon CPRE, said: “The proposed houses would be very densely arranged, which is out of keeping with the rest of the village.

“Nine new houses might not sound much, but it could increase the population of Westleigh by 37% because it’s such a small settlement with a population of just 100 people. Traffic and parking are already difficult here.”

Resident Brian Lees is concerned about the level of traffic too. He said: “We only received the applicant’s traffic figures last week and we believe they aren’t right. They seem on the low side to us.

“The fundamental problem is Westleigh has an archaic road system, typified by narrow lanes with blind junctions, bends with little or no visibility and no footpaths. Traffic generation from the proposed development will make the situation even worse.”

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Nicki Bennington, who owns Grade-II-listed Rock Cottage, added: “Our home will be at significant risk from anything turning into or out of the new estate. Our thatch has been hit several times by high-sided vehicles over the years and with a housing estate opposite there will be more deliveries and more cars. The building phase alone would be a real problem for everybody too because the road is so narrow.”

“I’m also concerned about the future of our village hall, a historic WWI hut which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. It will almost certainly lose bookings and we struggle to raise the funds to maintain it as it is.”

Devon CPRE director Penny Mills said much of Westleigh was designated a conservation area.

She added: “Public meetings have been held, and residents have clearly said they think this development is inappropriate because of the location and the road layout. We agree with them.  Let's hope North Devon Council listens to them, acts on their wishes and rejects the application.

“Otherwise, what's the point of consulting them? It's called democracy.”

The plans were subject to a public consultation last year and developers says feedback was taken on board.

Planning documents said a review of the existing trees on the site identified that none were suitable for roosting bats, but there were 10 species of bat recorded as flying within the area.

As such, a series of mitigation measures have been recommended including hedges, foraging areas, roosting opportunities and appropriate lighting.

A heritage report said the proposal will result in a ‘perceptible change to the building environment’ in proximity to Rock Cottage, a grade II listed building located adjacent to the proposed access point, but ‘not in a way which affects the architectural or setting interest of the building’.