A DEVELOPMENT scheme in Yelverton has been turned down by planners for not providing enough affordable homes. Trand (UK) Ltd wants to build four flats and 28 houses at Briar Tor, with 11 of the properties being for rent through a social landlord. The rest would be sold on the open market. Officers at Dartmoor National Park Authority recommended the project be approved — despite a policy that requires a 50 percent affordable housing rate. A meeting of the authority's development control committee on Friday heard from planning officer Chris Hart, who said a 'new development brief' had been issued to take into account the economic turndown since 2008. 'The issue of viability is now very much on the agenda,' he told members. There was little support for a relaxation of the rules however. Dr Ian Mortimer said: 'Policy has to come before viability', adding that more land would need to go under the bulldozer if Yelverton's affordable housing target of 18 properties was to be met. The meeting heard that the developers were willing to negotiate up to an additional four low-cost properties, taking the total to 47 per cent. Members voted eleven to two in favour of refusal.