Concerns over estate expansion idea

Concerns have been raised about access, drainage and traffic on a proposed expansion of a Tavistock housing estate.

The public are being consulted on a plan by Cavanna Homes to add 69 new homes to the existing 148-home Broadleigh Park estate off New Launceston Road. This is significantly down on Cavanna’s plan unveiled in a pre-application last year for an additional 100 homes, however there is still considerable opposition.

Residents on and near the estate say the single access road and the sewage and drainage system are not adequate to cope with more homes.

The plan again raises the question of how the town can cope with more new housing without adequate infrastructure such as roads and drainage, and public services such as transport, schools and health.

The latest Cavanna Homes plan is an early planning idea and is not a planning application. The developer is consulting with the public to inform a planning application to be submitted to West Devon Borough Council for consideration next year.

Locals were told at a public consultation session on Tuesday, September 8, held at the Bedford Hotel, that the Phase Two will provide homes ranging from one to four bed in size, with 30 per cent of the homes to be affordable for local people.

One Broadleigh Park resident said the expansion would add traffic, so another access road onto the estate, in addition to Honeysuckle Drive, was needed. She also fears the one existing sewage pump serving the estate would be overwhelmed by more homes.

This latest development comes as a number of developers put in speculative proposals for greenfield sites circling the town, following a change in national planning policy weakening local authorities’ powers to turn down housing applications.

Tavistock town councillor Graham Parker said: “Before I can support any major development in Tavistock I would have to be convinced that, along with other developments, it isn’t going to break the town’s fragile highway system.”

He pointed out that 750 homes were in the planning queue ahead of Broadleigh, with 500 given planning permission at The Tors and 250 allocated in the current Local Plan on Plymouth Road.

Graham added: “These will have a massive impact on junctions at Drake’s Statue and Ford Street, Dixon Lane, Morrisons and Anderton Lane. No more permissions should be given until the county council has completed a townwide traffic survey and included traffic from these 750 homes which have first claim.

“Although the county council and NHS say there are enough school places and adequate primary health care in Tavistock, people’s lived experience is different.”

Meanwhile, developer Cavanna Homes has welcomed the high turnout at their consultation event.

Michael Newman, of Cavanna Homes, said: “We were pleased so many residents attended the consultation event and grateful to everyone who shared their views on our emerging proposals.

“The key issues raised included drainage, highway access from Honeysuckle Drive and lighting, and all of the feedback received will now be carefully considered by our project team as we continue to develop the plans.”

Cavanna is working with South West Water and the county council to ensure drainage proposals meet required standards.