Plans lodged for homes on greenfield site on outskirts of Torridge village

Plans have been submitted for 35 homes on a greenfield site at High Bickington.

Local people raised concerns about ‘overdevelopment’ and an increase in traffic following a consultation event on the proposal in December.

The three acre site is at Cross Park, on the edge of the village, but within close proximity to local amenities and services.

Outline planning permission is sought, with all details except the access to follow in a second application at a later date.

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Access to the site would be from a new junction on the B3217 and would see partial removal of the existing hedge to create the space required.

Planning agent Peregrine Mears Architects Ltd, on behalf of applicant John Tucker, said in documents to Torridge District Council there would be a mix of one, two, three and four bed homes of which 11 would be affordable to meet current planning policy.

The development would contribute to meeting the district’s housing targets at a time when the local planning authority was unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, it said.

Twenty-five people attended a public consultation at High Bickington Community Centre on December 4 and 11 completed comment forms.

There was some support for smaller affordable homes being built, but others raised concern about the access off the B3217. The road which passes through the village was a hotspot for speeding and ‘overused’ by heavy goods traffic, they claimed. 

“Vehicular access will bring another huge issue to already problematic road,” said one resident.

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Another said that there were around 100 new homes planned for High Bickington and it was going to lose its ‘village feel’.

Residents questioned whether the amount of houses was necessary, if the local school could cope and said public transport was limited.

Developers sought pre-planning advice from the planning department and said no concerns were raised about the access by highways officers.

They said a construction traffic management plan would be agreed with the authority at the detailed design stage.

People have until January 29 to comment on the plans and Torridge District Council will make a decision at a future date.