A PROPOSED development which would see 25 new homes built in Northlew would signal the ?invasion of the urbanites? one nearby resident has warned. David Pressley told a public meeting of villagers organised by the parish council that the plans by Sunnybanks Homes for development at Kimberlands would be more appropriate for an urban area rather than a small rural setting like Northlew. They were likely to have a ?devastating impact? on the village. Mr Pressley said: ?In other parts of the country, I have seen what reckless planning can actually do.? He said development on such a scale would disrupt the tranquility of the village: ?At the moment you can go out and look at the stars in the sky at night and actually see them. ?If this development comes about it will probably bring a great collection of bright orange street lighting and we won?t be able to see the stars at night.? Cllr James McInnes, borough ward member for Lew Valley, said he would be asking for a site visit when the revised application came before the planning committee, because he wanted other councillors to see the area for themselves, particularly the narrow access road to the site. He also strongly refuted claims that West Devon Borough Council?s planning department was ?promoting? the developers? application. ?We live in a democracy. Anyone can put in a proposal for a development. Whether it is a good or bad development is up to the planning officers and ultimately the elected representatives to decide,? he said. Cllr McInnes said if villagers were concerned about the proposals they should register their objections with West Devon Council?s planning department and could also write to Devon County Council?s local services officers to highlight the issues of the approach road to the site. At last week?s Northlew Parish Council meeting, members decided to write to the borough council to register concerns about the revised plans. The parish council letter stated: ?We are very disappointed in these revised plans, which do not appear to have incorporated issues we addressed on the original application.? Among issues highlighted by the council were the density of the development, the style of buildings, the need for a higher proportion of affordable housing and the increased volume of traffic on the narrow approach road. Chairman of the parish council John Grierson said while some new housing in Northlew would help the village to survive, by encouraging young people into it and keeping the school, the shop and the church alive, the proposed development would increase the population by around 25 per cent. Sunnybanks planning director Graham Clark said: ?This site had been allocated for development through two local plans and the inspector fully considered all the issue of access.? Mr Clark said Government planning guidance required a minimum residential density of 30 dwellings per hectare, and the new application came in just above that level, at 31 dwellings per hectare. He said the design incorporated many similar features to those at a previous Sunnybanks development at Lewdown, which had won an award for its sympathetic design. Mr Clark said the development would deliver seven new affordable homes, three of which would be shared ownership and four would be rented social housing. ?West Devon has identified the provision of affordable homes as of paramount importance,? he added. The application is expected to be considered by the planning committee at the end of this month.
