A CONTENTIOUS application for a major development of up to 750 homes in Tavistock was this week agreed by West Devon Borough Council's planning committee — despite reluctance from some councillors. The outline application on land adjacent to Callington Road by Bovis Homes Ltd for a mixed use development comprising up to 750 dwellings, a primary school site, a local convenience store, railway station-related development and associated infrastructure, including detailed drawings for a new vehicular and pedestrian access from the A390, was put to the committee on Tuesday, with the recommendation for conditional planning permission subject to a section 106 legal agreement being signed before January 31. A multi-million pound contribution will also be made towards the reinstatement of the Tavistock-Bere Alston railway line. Planning officer Jeremy Guise emphasised the application was an outline one, and the plan would move forward with all matters except access to be determined at the reserved matters stage. He said: 'We're trying to give consideration for the overall framework for 750 homes. We're trying to show flexibility for the developer but we also need to have safeguards in place for a satisfactory form of development.' He said the key issues were the principle of mixed use, mainly residential development, the railway reinstatement and access arrangements, ensuring delivery of a sustainable residential environment, the design and landscape considerations and the section 106 and measures to offset the impact of the development. Mr Guise said the applicant — after a lot of negotiation — had agreed to provide a contribution to the railway of £13.2-million, but in order to provide that contribution, a compromise had to be made on the amount of affordable housing offered on the site. 'In order to get the railway contribution we have had to compromise on affordable housing,' said Mr Guise. 'We have agreed with reluctance to reduce the amount from 40 percent to 20 percent. To get this figure we have looked through viability assessments with specialist advice to get a picture of what is acceptable.' He said the application had attracted 16 objections — mainly relating to the access arrangements. The development would take place in four stages and the developers were keen to start on the first phase next year. Cllr Terry Pearce said: 'I think the development would be very beneficial to Tavistock but the transport issues will be a killer. 'With all those houses there will be at least 1,000 more vehicles on the road. I have major concerns about the impact on the Drake's statue and Ford Street junctions and I wonder how the A386 is going to cope with that much traffic. 'The indication given in the report is that it is going to be a quality development and everything else about the plan I agree with, but I have major concerns over the highways issues. I don't think the single entrance at Callington Road will cope with the volume of traffic at peak times. 'Already people don't come into Tavistock at the weekends because of the amount of traffic.' The Devon County Council highways officer told members the increase in cars would be gradual and that in line with county policies, he did not judge the impact on road junctions in the area to be severe. Cllr Robert Oxborough, ward member, said: 'I'm worried at what I am hearing from highways, that until we are gridlocked we should be happy. 'Having our road network backed up is not what I want to see.' Cllr Bill Cann had reservations about the contributions that would be made to the infrastructure. He said: 'This is a lovely greenfield area — it may be in the core strategy but we made a lot of noise about one house in the countryside and haven't made a lot of noise about this. 'I'm concerned about the contribution from Devon County Council — if you look at Okehampton, we were promised the earth from DCC and others and we haven't seen any of that infrastructure. 'I haven't got much confidence that this will happen for Tavistock. I am also not supporting the 20 percent of affordable housing — that's just not on.' Cllr Bob Baldwin said: 'I have serious misgivings about the proportion of affordable homes. 'If we approve it, accept the 20 percent and release the money for the railway, that doesn't guarantee that it will be reinstated because other funding is needed. 'We also don't know what relief to the traffic the railway will bring. However, the plan is compliant with the core strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework, so that greenfield site was signed away a long time ago. 'I don't see any reason to refuse this application so I will be supporting it with reluctance.' WDBC development manager Malcolm Elliott said: 'This is an allocated site which has been progressed through the core strategy. 'We have to accept it is a site to bring forward. 'We have a responsibility to provide more housing in the town and an obligation to plan our extension, hence the nature of this application. 'As far as the affordable housing allowance is concerned, this isn't a percentage plucked out of thin air — an enormous amount of work has been done to come to this figure. 'There are longer term aspirations to improve the traffic, but if members were minded to vote against this plan because of highways matters, I'd like you to think again. 'You need to look carefully at how to refuse on a highways basis because the advice from officers has been clear in that respect.' The councillors voted in favour of the application by six votes to two.