PERMISSION for a large house to be built on an ancient burial site in Tavistock was granted by West Devon's planning committee this Tuesday.
The steeply sloping land lies below Tavistock Hospital and in the Middle Ages was used as a cemetery for a leper colony living nearby.
Outline planning consent for a dwelling was granted in April this year, despite opposition from local residents concerned over a number of issues, including restricted access, drainage, arsenic contaminated land and the archaeological interest of the site.
Robin Start, vice chairman of the Ford Street Maynard Charity, told councillors he was very worried about surface water run-off onto the cottages in Ford Street.
'There will be about 18 times the amount of water which has to be disposed of.
'We get enough problems with damp as it is — we are very concerned about this,' he said.
Cllr Noel Cartwright pointed out the need for permeable ground surfaces to be used around the development to reduce run-off of surface water.
And Cllr Dilwyn Hughes was concerned that 'members of the public did more work on the subject than the Environment Agency'.
Planning officer Chris Watson said despite a 'great deal of objections' the principle had already been determined. He suggested a soil and archaeological survey should be carried out before any development took place.
He did not believe tree preservation orders needed to be made on any trees remaining on the site.
Permission was granted subject to conditions including details of surface water drainage, building materials and landscaping.