Teignbridge 20-year plan gets go ahead
A planning inspector has declared Teignbridge District Council’s 20-year Plan Teignbridge document for the future to be sound, and has given the go-ahead for it to be adopted by the council.
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) issued its final report into the council’s plan yesterday which maps out how jobs, homes, including affordable, community facilities, roads, country parks, and more will be provided to meet local needs over the next 20 years.
In his report the Inspector said:
“I consider that the Plan has been positively prepared to address housing and employment shortfalls while including positive measures to protect environmental assets, including the retention of important natural features and wildlife.”
Over the course of its life Plan Teignbridge seeks to provide:
• 12,400 homes including affordable homes, self build and open market
• 70 hectares of land for employment use
• 11,000m2 of shopping space in Newton Abbot
• More cycle routes and other green transport options
• Improved environment and wildlife habitat protections for bats (including the very rare greater horseshoe bats), dormice and slow worms
• Safeguarding green spaces – known as Undeveloped Coast – between coastal communities
• Increasing and protecting ‘strategic breaks’ which separate villages and towns and preserve open green spaces
Plan Teignbridge - also called the Local Plan - was formed following widespread public consultation and examination. It will now go before Full Council for formal adoption.
Cllr Philip Vogel, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesman for Housing and Planning, said:
“Plan Teignbridge will contribute to every single person’s life now and into the future. It will do this in many ways – for example, allocating new sites for employment will increase the number of local jobs and reduce out-commuting to other areas, helping established employers flourish and attract new business.
“Land allocations will unlock potential for new homes to be built in the most appropriate places, giving local people the chance to remain living here rather than moving away.
“The wide range of policies will protect our landscape, wildlife, biodiversity and heritage – aspects of life here which make Teignbridge such a fantastic tourist destination.
“I’d like to thank all the members of the public who came to talk to us at our consultation events, our partner agencies, Teignbridge officers and my fellow councillors for their input in shaping this plan.”
