Newton Abbot road plan will reopen ‘new town’ debate

The next stage in a controversial project to create a ‘new town’ of more than 1,200 homes on green fields outside Newton Abbot will be decided next week.

Teignbridge Council’s planning committee is expected to green-light a new road link as part of the huge Wolborough Barton development south of the town.

The application they will consider is just for the road at the centre of a development dubbed ‘NA3’, but it will re-open the debate on the proposals that will change the shape of the town forever.

The Wolborough Barton scheme was approved by a planning inspector in 2021, and will see 1,210 homes built on hilly countryside between Decoy and Ogwell. Developers Vistry Homes and Baker Estates say it will address the need for homes in the Newton Abbot area, while objectors say it is over-development that will destroy open countryside.

In 2019, opposition to NA3 became so intense that a new political group was formed. The South Devon Alliance began as a group opposed to what it saw as the overdevelopment of Newton Abbot, and is now the joint second-largest party at Teignbridge Council, with nine elected councillors.

Wolborough Barton is within the College council ward, which is represented by two South Devon Alliance councillors.

In addition to the houses, the scheme promises a new primary school, employment land and community facilities including a day nursery and a health centre. There will be a local shopping centre, play area, allotments and a multi-use games area, as well as a link road connecting the A380 and the A381.

Full planning permission has already been given to convert the Wolborough Barton farmhouse into a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar.

The application being considered next week is for 720 metres of road through the centre of the site. Objections include fears for wildlife around the ‘fragile ecosystem’ of Wolborough Fen, which is a site of special scientific interest, but a report for the committee points out that the planned road does not affect the fen.

Councillors are being recommended to approve the road, subject to a list of detailed conditions.

At the same meeting, the planning committee is expected to approve a public open space and a children’s play space at Wolborough Grange, which is part of the same overall greenfield building site.