CONCERN is mounting among Tavistock residents after the appeal of a controversial planning application, to build 110 homes at a greenfield site in Tavistock, went unnoticed by many objectors for more than a month.

In October a second application, submitted by developers 3H Investments to build a new housing estate at Butcher Park, north-east of Redmoor Close, was rejected by West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) a year after the first application was also unanimously refused by planners.

On December 9 developers lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State to try and get the decision overturned.

Many residents are concerned that the developers waited until the Christmas period to submit the appeal in an attempt to minimise the amount of rejection letters WDBC would receive.

Residents that had previously submitted rejection letters were also concerned that they were not notified of the appeal until January 18, 2016.

Jean Keast, a Tavistock resident, said: ‘I certainly don’t support the application and I sent in an objection. Nothing big businesses do surprises me and it would certainly be a good tactic to use Christmas and the New Year break to sneak an appeal in.

‘It is funny how this started out as planning permission for holiday chalets and has now turned into a housing estate. Maybe I am too suspicious but this smacks of back door tactics to get what they want. I am surprised by the length of time it took the council to advise the objectors.’

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