Plans to build 59 homes in Budleigh Salterton have been approved by East Devon District Council.

The development, which will include 30 ‘affordable’ homes, will take place on formerly agricultural land between the B3178 and Hooker Close.

It was approved this week by councillors sitting on EDDC’s development management committee, subject to a section 106 agreement.

The plan had previously been supported by district planning officers, and by Budleigh Salterton Town Council.

The development, along with the homes which are being built on the Greenaway Lane allotments site, will ensure that Budleigh’s allocation of 100 homes between now and 2026 under the East Devon Local Plan has been met.

It will also help address EDDC’s five-year land supply shortfall.

Budleigh councillor Alan Dent, a member of the development management committee, said: “This gives Budleigh what Budleigh has to have. It fills the allocation with affordable homes that people actually need, so we can get more young people in Budleigh.”

Some concerns were raised about the effect of the development on wildlife, and in particular a badger sett on the site.

This will have to be fenced off, and the developer will have to obtain a legal order to allow this.

The development will be accessed by road from the B3178, and the homes will be arranged in a rough grid layout in the triangular site.

Originally the plan was for 62 homes, but this has been reduced during the application process.

Most of the homes will be two and three-bedroom houses, in a mixture of terraced, semi-detached and detached arrangements.

A play area will also be provided, along with secure cycle storage for each home.