New care home and houses opposed

Plans for a new 60-bed dementia care home and 30 new houses on the edge of Budleigh have been opposed by countryside campaigners.

The plan, by Badger Homes, which is currently under consultation, is to develop land between Barn Lane and the B3178, next to a site which already has planning permission for 59 dwellings.

The developers say the plan will provide much-needed dementia care and affordable housing, and follows strong demand for homes at the adjacent site.

However, the Campaign to Protect Rural England is among organisations who have formally objected.

Commenting on the planning application, chairman of the group in East Devon, Margaret Hall, takes issue with the need for the development, and its proposed location within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, writing: “No justification has been made for this application, in terms of planning policy.

“The harms of development significantly outweigh the benefits. Hence the application should be refused.”

The Otter Valley Association has also objected to the plan, with member for planning, Nicola Daniel, saying that the town’s housing need has already been met, with two other developments in progress.

She added: “The town has recently lost a dementia nursing home closer to the town, closed due to lack of demand.

“The town definitely does not need another nursing home.

“The Otter Valley Association urges rejection of this application.”

Devon County Highways – a statutory consultee - has also formally objected, with the authority saying it has not been given enough information on the proposed access to the site.

However, East Devon District Council’s housing strategy officer is more favourable, welcoming the provision of affordable homes, which would make up 40 per cent of the new housing.

Budleigh Salterton Town Council is set to consider the scheme at its next planning meeting on September 29. Members of East Devon District Council will decide the fate of the planning permission.