Dawlish link road approved

By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter.

A new link road will be built in Dawlish as part of a scheme for 860 homes.

Located between Elm Grove Road and the A379 Exeter Road, it forms part of Teignbridge District Council’s local plan to build the houses on the edge of Dawlish near Secmaton Lane.

As the local highway authority, Devon County Council’s ruling cabinet approved the project, estimated to cost £6.2 million, at a meeting on Wednesday [12 October].

Teignbridge has secured £4.9 million from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund towards the scheme, which includes a bridge over Shutterton Brook. The remaining £1.3 million is expected to come from developer contributions.

Councillors previously heard how the lack of a link road during the construction of other homes nearby had caused “many issues” in Dawlish, as works vehicles have had to rely on Elm Grove Road which runs through the heart of the town.

The link road will also support bus services, cycle lanes and footpaths, with a report stating: “The route will enable and promote sustainable movement for pedestrians, cyclists and bus services, and allows the efficient distribution of traffic.”

The associated plan for “at least 860 homes” on land to the north-west of Dawlish is allocated in the local plan (2013- 2033), with a target of 25 per cent affordable homes, along with a range of social and community infrastructure.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, local councillor Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem) said: “This road has been seven years, at least, in the making and it’s been a long old journey to get here and it will be a massive relief when it comes in to the local residents, especially in Elm Grove Road.

“Elm Grove Road has two schools, one nursery and two specialised schools adjacent to it, and this will remove the thundering lorries, the thundering construction traffic, as well as the increased cars from some 500 new homes already built. So, it’ll be a massive relief there.

Cllr Wrigley said it was a “really good example of Teignbridge and Devon working together” and that the new housing is “much needed,” but he lamented how long the project had taken to come about.

Green councillor Jacqui Hodgson (Totnes & Dartington) said it was “good to see a link road … that’s actually supporting active travel at the same time,” but asked whether there was any environmental mitigation to offset the impact of the new road.

She was told by an officer that people should “look at the development as a whole rather than actually isolate certain elements, so that will be considered through the planning process for the whole development.”