RECENTLY Persimmon Developers put in for planning permission to build 25 houses on a green field site with vehicular access from St Andrews Road, Whitchurch.

If this application had been successful they would undoubtedly have applied for 100+ more houses on adjacent fields.

It was an unsuitable site for many reasons, but most importantly because this site is outside the agreed development for Tavistock.

There was strong local feeling against this application, resulting in residents lodging overwhelming objections with West Devon Borough Council's planning department and local councillors.

We were delighted to learn this week from the planning department that Persimmon have now decided to withdraw their planning application.

The New Year will undoubtedly bring further unwanted applications from national housing developers for speculative development around Whitchurch and Tavistock.

Redrow is expected to put in an application very similar in nature to Persimmon, for building at least 110+ houses on the remaining Tiddy Brook meadows in Whitchurch, which is again not part of the five year land strategy plan.

We would urge readers to be vigilant, and again help by lodging their objections which are so important, and give the borough council's planning department their backing to refuse these unwanted and unnecessary planning applications.