Princetown homes approved despite fierce local opposition in Dartmoor planning row

A controversial scheme for nine affordable homes at Princetown has been approved by Dartmoor National Park Authority, despite strong local objection.

Concerns were raised at a planning meeting on Friday about inadequate parking, drainage, and overlooking of neighbouring properties in relation to the plan for land adjacent to Moorland View.

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However, the pressing need for local homes, with ten households on the waiting list in Princetown and more than 60 in nearby villages, outweighed these issues for park members.

The site is part-owned by the park authority, with applicant West Devon Borough Council owning the rest.

Opponents, including Dartmoor Forest Parish Council, argued that the road to the new properties was narrow at 3.5 metres and unsuitable for further development. 

The Moorlander previously reported on this application and the growing concerns among residents in Moorland View.

They said parking in the area was already a problem and that emergency vehicles struggled to access the site.

They also raised flooding concerns, stating that the land below North Hessary Tor becomes a “quagmire” during wet weather due to run-off from the tor.

Further objections related to the design of the homes, with claims that they did not “embrace the character of Dartmoor” and would negatively affect the landscape.

Concerns were also expressed about the village’s limited job opportunities and public transport, with the parish council saying Princetown was undergoing a period of “rapid decline”, not least because of the closure of the national park visitor centre and the temporary closure of Dartmoor Prison.

“There is widespread concern that this is not the right time or place for a development of this nature, composition and size,” said the parish council. “The proposals bring no added value to the community.”

But Devon Highways officers raised no objection to the homes, and national park officers said an attenuation tank was proposed to store excess water during heavy rainfall.

The plan, which includes one-bed flats and larger family homes, was revised from ten homes to nine, and four additional visitor parking spaces were created alongside the allocated spaces.

DNPA member Guy Pannell said it was a case of “what Devon Highways says goes most of the time”, making it difficult to argue against the assessment.

“I did not find the design of any particular problem,” he said. “We do have to consider we have a housing crisis and we have to provide homes for more families and single people.”

Members were told that strict drainage conditions had been put in place following consultation with the Environment Agency, and the proximity of the homes to existing properties was in line with national guidelines.

Another park member, Pamela Woods, said the authority had to balance the interests of residents with the need for affordable housing.

“Where there is a clear housing need, this trumps all, and I will be supporting it,” she said.

It was backed by all members except one.