Bid for six new homes in Torridge village amasses 50 objections

Around 50 objections have been raised to a development of six homes on land at Parkham village near Bideford.

Local people are concerned about traffic and safety as well as impact on local services.

Others have questioned the need for more new homes as they say there are new builds still available in the area which have not sold.

The application to Torridge District Council follows an earlier proposal for the site in 2022, which was refused by planners and dismissed on appeal.

READ NEXT: Plans revealed for new housing developments in three Torridge villages

The council is being asked to reconsider the site as the authority can no longer demonstrate an adequate five year housing land supply, with amended details submitted by applicant Pearce Construction this month.

The national planning policy framework has been updated after the Labour government announced plans to accelerate housebuilding and provide 1.5 million new homes by the end of its first five years in office.

As a result local authorities have been given new housing targets and told they may have to look favourably at sites which were previously considered unsuitable if they are in sustainable locations ie close to services, bus stops and shops.

To address this, Torridge District Council and North Devon Council are calling on their communities to identify potential sites for development, as they work to prepare a new local plan for the area.

One letter of objection to the Parkham plan said access roads in and out were narrow with few passing places and there were already cars parked on the roadside throughout the village.

The person wrote: ‘For every one new home built, there is an average of two cars per household. Parkham cannot sustain an increase in traffic safely.

‘There is only one bus per day therefore no public services are being provided to alleviate an over use of motor vehicles. This development is not for the benefit of the village. New builds that are already here are still on the market therefore the need is not there for another six.’

READ NEXT: Controversial gym plans for old Bideford Library go back to drawing board

Devon County Council’s historic environment team has recommended that if the proposal is approved the applicants set out a programme of archaeological works to mitigate for the loss of heritage assets with archaeological interest as it was possible there was prehistoric or Roman deposits in that area.

Torridge District Council’s planning committee will make a decision on the application at a future date.