A MAJOR housing plan for Okehampton which could see more than 350 homes built in the future has been approved by West Devon planners.

The outline proposal by Leander Developments and Mrs R Coombe for land near the Exeter Road Industrial Estate was delegated to planning officers to grant, subject to a legal agreement which details the developer's contribution to education.

The permission is also subject to a number of conditions including providing a noise assessment of the potential impact of the industrial estate to the south of the site, after concerns were expressed by Robert Wiseman Dairies, and details of any mitigation measures necessary.

Members of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee were last month told that the proposal was part of the largest portion of designated development land on the east of the town for housing.

There are three pieces of land in total, which will result in 500 new homes in the town.

It is hoped a new school will be built on adjacent land and the developer has offered £630,000 towards it, should the land come forward.

If not, £503,000 will be offered towards existing education facilities to cater for the increase in pupils from the new development.

Some 46 letters of objection were sent to the planning authority from local residents concerned about traffic issues, overdevelopment, inadequate infrastructure, access and pedestrian links.

Cllr Christine Marsh said the site was identified for housing in the local plan and had been for a long time and so there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

'There are lots of areas of concern including access, design and open space within the site and the public can be reassured that we will be looking at these very closely if and when a detailed application comes forward,' she said.