A FINAL decision on almost 400 new homes between Topsham and Countess Wear has been delayed by a week after the city council received objections at the eleventh hour. Exeter City Council planners had recommended approving the 398 houses by Persimmon Homes

A FINAL decision on almost 400 new homes between Topsham and Countess Wear has been delayed by a week after the city council received objections at the eleventh hour.Exeter City Council planners had recommended approving the 398 houses by Persimmon Homes for development on part the former Royal Naval Stores Depot, off Topsham Road.Planners were scheduled to discuss the plans on Monday evening - but the decision was put on hold after receiving late objections - the application had received 25 letters of objection and only one in support.The decision has now been deferred; despite outline approval being granted for homes at the site in July 2004 after the intervention of then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.Persimmon is seeking planning consent for aspects of the scheme - including the design of the buildings and layout of the site on the parcel of land bounded to the north by Old Rydon Lane, to the south-west by Exeter Golf Course and to the west by land lying between the site and Newcourt House.The proposals include 1,626sq m of commercial space and 764sq m of retail land and 80 flats or apartments, 292 three-bedroom houses and 26 four-bedroom houses.The council has asked for a quarter of the buildings to be 'social' housing, 85 per cent of which should be social rented housing. Fears about an increase in traffic in the Topsham Road area, the design of the homes, parking problems and concern about noise and air pollution were some of the reasons for objections.The application would provide the final section of the A379 Topsham link road, linking the previously approved sections of road extending from the A379 down to Old Rydon Lane and from the southern boundary of the site to Topsham Road.