Newton Abbot homes delayed again amid fears for wildlife

Fears for the future of a ‘magical’ wildlife haven have delayed a project to build 1,200 new homes on the outskirts of Newton Abbot again.

Teignbridge planning committee couldn’t reach a decision on the first phase of the massive Wolborough project, deferring it to a future meeting.

Councillors want more information on parking, access and the road layout of the development, and more on the ecology of the Wolborough Fen.

One expert described the fen as ‘nothing short of miraculous’.

The government’s Natural England conservation organisation says the fen will be safe if the development goes ahead, but councillors want reassurance.

The committee had been due to decide on the plans last month, but put it off after receiving last-minute information from objectors about potential harm to the fen. Now the matter will be delayed again.

The overall Wolborough Barton scheme – approved by a planning inspector in 2021 -will see 1,210 new properties built on rolling hills between Decoy and Ogwell. Developers claim it will bring badly-needed new homes, but objectors say it is over-development that will destroy open countryside.

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 Wolborough Barton farmhouse into a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar.

Two applications went before the latest meeting of the planning committee, and both were deferred. One was for 720 metres of road through the centre of the site while the other was for the first ‘tranche’ of 94 houses to the west of Decoy park.

Councillors decided they were ‘inter-dependent’ and put off making decisions on both.

Professional ecologist Dr Kenneth Thompson told them: “I’m not sure you are aware of just what a special place Wolborough Fen is. Places like this are precious, and deserve the very highest level of protection.

“We have this magical place on our doorstep. It should be a source of enormous civic pride, and we should do everything we possibly can to avoid the smallest possibility that it suffers any damage.

“These developments will very likely damage the fen and possibly even destroy it.”

He should the council was acting ‘like a bull in a china shop’ to get the plans under way, and should instead take time to make sure the fen was safe.

“A decade, or less, down the line we could all be looking at the wreckage of Wolborough Fen,” he said. “And you will be to blame.”

Natural England, however, says the developers have taken sufficient steps to make sure the wildlife area is safe. There would also be stringent conditions attached to any planning permission, meaning developers must make sure it is preserved.

Developers also warned that any further delays would hold back the provision of new housing for Newton Abbot.

But Cllr Jane Taylor (SD Alliance, Kerswell with Coombe) said: “We need to be accountable to future generations. We should start from a position of ‘do no harm’, and until we can be satisfied about that, we should not be going ahead with this.”