A CONTROVERSIAL plan for a new housing development at Petrockstowe, which received local opposition, has been turned down by Torridge District Council's planning committee.
Councillors went against the officer's recommendation and rejected the plan by Millwood Homes on the grounds that it was an overdevelopment of the site at Town Land and the density and design was inappropriate to the character of the village.
Members also considered the scheme was contrary to the draft local plan in terms of meeting the needs of the community.
Millwood Homes of Newton Abbot amended its plan from 37 to 35 homes following concern from local residents at a public meeting in October.
Local people said the housing plan would dramatically increase the size of the village, which currently stood at around 100 homes, and there would be a major increase in traffic and a stretch on local services such as the school.
Petrockstowe Parish Council opposed the plan because of the strong feeling against the development at the public meeting.
The housing company had been granted outline permission in October 1998 but no objections were raised at the time because the amount of houses was not known.
Managing director of Millwood Homes, Alastair Salt said following the public meeting the company was aiming at the first time buyer market and the housing being proposed was two and three bedroomed properties.
'Starter homes and first family homes are very hard to find especially in Petrockstowe, which has mainly larger houses and bungalows,' he said.
Mr Salt said a decision on whether to appeal against the decision by the planning authority or submit a further application would be made after taking advice from a planning consultant.