Calls to stop building more - until promised work is complete
Devonshire Homes has responded to the criticism from Bovey Tracey Town Council
Devonshire Homes has apologised for 'inconvenience' and 'delays in getting the road surface completed', after criticism from Bovey Tracey Town Council.
It's after members voted to call on developers to complete the first phase of new homes at the Langston Cross site before starting work on more than 100 others.
In particular town councillors want a delayed pedestrian and cycle link to Brimley Vale to be opened and for Devonshire Homes to deliver on its commitment to provide ten allotments.
The council says it has 'concerns that the next part of the project off Monks Way will be served by just one road, meaning traffic heading to a proposed ‘employment’ area will have to pass by hundreds of homes and cross a footpath'.
What has the Town Council said?
At a meeting of the authority’s Planning and Environment Committee, members heard from a resident who has been living on the estate for the past four years.
He complained about the ‘slow adoption’ of new roads and lack of promised traffic-free shortcut to Brimley Vale.
Concerned that the latter was preventing safe access to other parts of town he said: ‘The young people of Langston Cross want to use the facilities at the cricket club.
‘To make them go round the long way, what are we waiting for, a serious accident or fatality?’
He described the lack of allotments as ‘far too little far too late’ and said of his attempts to strike up a dialogue with Devonshire Homes: ‘They just don’t respond.’
He urged members to ask Teignbridge District Council for Devonshire Homes’ fresh 107 homes application to be considered by councillors at committee, rather than have the matter decided by an officer.
Cllr Eoghan Kelly echoed many of the concerns, describing the one-road-in-one-road-out proposal for Phase Two as ‘dangerous’.
Cllr Sue Simmons was disappointed at what she described as a ‘very weak’ provision of sustainability features and lack of hedgehog highways.
Making reference to the uncompleted works she said: ‘It throws doubt on the ability of the developer to complete their work.’
After further debate, members agreed not to offer any objection to Phase Two but to resubmit previous observations about delivery of infrastructure and to request completion of Phase One before further constriction is commenced.
What has Devonshire Homes said?
In a statement the firm said: “Longston Cross is already established as a vibrant community and we are in the final stages of completing works on the first phase of this popular development in Bovey Tracey.
“We recognise that there have been delays in getting the road surface completed and we apologise for the inconvenience this caused. Drainage works were required ahead of this taking place, and we can confirm these have been completed this week. It is expected that final road finishings should be carried out in July.
“The link to Brimley Vale is not due to be delivered until the final self-build plots adjacent have been completed. The current market conditions have meant that these plots have not yet found self-build purchasers. However, we are exploring the possibility of carrying out some work in this area that can facilitate pedestrian access, only on an informal basis, ahead of the two plots being sold and built.
“The planning requirements for delivery of the ten allotments are associated to phase 2 of the development; the plan for allotments must be submitted and approved by the 50th open market occupation on this phase, which means delivery of the plan is unlikely for at least another year at the earliest.
“Following the strong interest in Longston Cross phase I, we are pleased to be progressing with our plans for phase two which will bring forward further new homes to the town.”
There's more about the scheme here