Proposals for 44 new homes in The Avenues, Exmouth, look set to be decided by a planning inspector, after the applicants launched an appeal.

Landowner Clinton Devon Estates’ development company Littleham 2010 has applied for permission to build the homes, on a development called Douglas Gardens, south of Douglas Avenue - adjacent to, but a separate application from, proposals for 350 homes at Plumb Park.

A decision on planning permission was due to be made at East Devon District Council’s most recent development management committee (DMC) meeting, but after members decided to delay for an inspection, the applicants have appealed, taking the decision out of the council’s hands.

The Planning Inspectorate will now consider the plan.

Explaining the move, a spokesman for Littleham 2010 said: “A formal inquiry will test the evidence produced by the applicant, particularly surrounding housing need in Exmouth.

“Exmouth needs houses, especially affordable housing, because so little has been built in recent years. According to the most recent figures published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2014, there were 2,400 households on the waiting list for social housing in East Devon.”

The spokesman also criticised the delay in reaching a decision.

“The timeframe for a decision on the Douglas Gardens application, which was lodged on March 25, 2015, is already unacceptable.

“By the next DMC meeting, it will have taken almost three times longer than the three months required from the validation of an application to determination.”

The spokesman also said the applicant wanted a ‘constructive discussion’ with councillors about protecting and managing the Maer Valley.