Plan for 373 homes at Inglewood Paignton given council's seal of approval

By Rob Kershaw, Local Democracy Reporter

Paignton is getting almost 400 new homes, a school and a restaurant.

A planning inspectorate approved the controversial development, which is out of Torbay Council’s control, two years ago.

Torbay’s planning committee met yesterday (Monday, March 14) to discuss reserves matters, which included the provision of land for the school and restaurant, and the size and appearance of the homes.

Persimmon Homes will now build 373 flats, bungalows and houses at Inglewood, south of White Rock. Thirty per cent of homes – 112 – will be classed as affordable.

The affordable properties will be passed to a local housing association partner and 75 per cent will be available for social rent for local people, says the housebuilder.

The company will give more than £2million of Section 106 funding – money paid to local authorities by developers to help the local community – to Torbay Council.

However, councillors were disappointed that no further details of the school or restaurant were provided by the developer.

Cllr Jackie Thomas queried whether this would mean more houses would be built.

She said: “I feel the design is not the best for these dwellings and feel that, when we drive by, is this something that we are going to be proud of or simply cringe at?

“I just can’t support this. Of course, we do need houses. But we need the right type of houses, and I’m sorry but I don’t feel this is it.”

But Cllr Karen Kennedy, who agreed that the development is against the wishes of the council, felt Persimmon had put forward a satisfactory proposal.

“Especially as ward councillors and the residents, we don’t want it,” she conceded. “However, we can’t stop that. We now have to work with what an inspector has told us we’re going to have. And that is 373 homes placed there.

“It could be an awful lot worse. I don’t think it’s particularly bad, I think an awful lot of work has gone into getting something which works for that area.”

The application went through by five votes to three.

Afterwards, Adam Church, Persimmon Cornwall and West Devon managing director, said: “We’re delighted our exciting plans at Inglewood in Paignton have received the seal of approval from local councillors on the planning committee at Torbay.

“The scheme will provide a range of much-needed, quality new homes designed for local people, especially young families and first-time buyers, and the largest social housing contribution the local area has seen in years.

“As part of the plans for Inglewood, we have already made significant investments in the local infrastructure, while we’ll also donate to the local authority a fully serviced site for a new two-form entry primary school in the area.

“Alongside this vast contribution, Persimmon will also deliver over £2million to boost the local economy, upgrade local services and facilities for the benefit of local residents and businesses.

“Persimmon is proud of the transformational benefits this scheme will deliver for the local community, and I would like to thank my team, partners and key stakeholders at the council who’ve worked tirelessly to deliver a quality scheme for local people.”

Persimmon says the development will also include fully-equipped play areas and wide community access to the countryside surrounding Inglewood. They will also provide a community orchard and 1.4 acres of allotments for use by local residents.

The housebuilder has already undertaken significant ecological mitigation works, planting 23,500 new trees and hedges to assist the ecology of the area and reduce its carbon footprint.

The scheme will also support active travel through the provision of a new pedestrian / cycleway connection from the most southerly extent of the site to the existing urban extension to the north.