MORE than a dozen ‘affordable’ homes complete with allotments, a �10,000 play area and a five-a-side football pitch will be built in Woodbury Salterton

MORE than a dozen ‘affordable’ homes complete with allotments, a �10,000 play area and a five-a-side football pitch will be built in Woodbury Salterton.

East Devon planners this week rubberstamped plans for 13 affordable homes and five market homes on land south of Sages Lea by developers, Greendale Investment and Cornerstone Housing.

But while the plans were popular because they go some way to meeting the council’s affordable housing obligations, the plans also drew 37 letters of protest from residents.

Concerns ranged from traffic in Stony Lane, lack of facilities such as a shop or Post Office, lack of extra school places and concerns about flooding from a nearby stream.

Parish councillor Graham Gerdes, speaking as a resident, said that the site was on a rise that led to a stream.“It is very much a wildlife habitat and it is important it is not only preserved but enhanced. There are significant concerns with surface water drainage.”

He added that a copse of trees should be planted between the site and the stream to absorb run-off.

Ward member Anne Liverton welcomed the application. “The need for affordable homes has long been established in the area,” she said.

“The parish council held out until a play area was delivered.I would agree with a copse of trees: they like trees in the village.”

Development manager Ed Freeman said: “We feel it is an important provision for affordable housing and will meet not insubstantial local housing needs.

“We could ask the developer for the copse but, in planning terms, we cannot insist on it.”

The developers will contribute �10,000 towards new play equipment and a five-aside football pitch as a condition.

Devon County Council also requested almost �90,000 towards local educational needs and nearly �45,000 for the loss of open space.