A plan to build dozens of new homes on the edge of a village has been unveiled, promising affordable housing and infrastructure improvements while prompting concerns over traffic, flooding and green space loss.
Developers are preparing to submit a full planning application for around 57 homes on land on the outskirts of Sampford Peverell. The scheme would include a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties, alongside at least 16 affordable homes in line with Mid Devon Local Plan requirements.
The proposals also feature new vehicle and pedestrian access from Lower Town, including a pedestrian crossing and links to existing pavements to improve connections to village facilities and Tiverton Parkway railway station. Plans include retaining existing boundary hedgerows, additional planting, and the introduction of balancing ponds and sustainable drainage systems to manage surface water and reduce flood risk.
Developers say the scheme aims to maximise biodiversity net gain, while also contributing towards public open space, healthcare, education and active travel improvements.
A public drop-in session was held on Tuesday, March 17, giving residents the chance to review early plans and share feedback.
Chris Winter, a director of West of England Developments, said: “We are showing off a proposed development on the outskirts of the village, and giving the local public the opportunity to come and question, challenge, comment, support as they see fit.
“At least to hopefully gain more information about what we are proposing and to air their concerns.”
Explaining the scheme, Chris said: “It is a mixed residential development. We have got up to just under 60 new homes, 35% of which will be affordable homes.
“They will be a mix of social affordable rent and some discounted sale homes and the remainder of the open market homes will be a mix of two, three, four beds and a proportion of those will be bungalows as well.”
Concerns raised by residents have largely centred on traffic and parking, particularly around the nearby railway station, as well as the loss of green fields, provision of play space, and drainage.
Chris said: “The feedback we get at just about every event is highways are always the biggest concern.
“The specific issues with this, with Sampford Peverell, are parking for the railway station, which is an historic problem, which we cannot fix.
“Loss of green fields, contributions or provision for children’s play space, that sort of thing, and concerns over flooding and foul water treatment.”
Addressing those concerns, he added: “We will make contributions to the play space for all ages and being asked to by the council.
“We cannot do anything about the car parking issue from the station and that is an ongoing problem.
“Things like foul water treatment is a South West Water issue. They will put in a holding objection to the application until they are satisfied they have got capacity to deal with it.
“Surface water is dealt with on site with attenuation so that whatever the water that is generated by the development runs off at a slower rate than the existing green field.”
Residents who were unable to attend the event are encouraged to view the proposals online and submit feedback.
He added: “We are here to listen, we have got something we have put forward.
“We will listen to their concerns and adopt change where we can.
“But we are in desperate need of housing. Mid Devon want more housing because they are not delivering enough.
“Sampford Peverell is a sustainable location and our pre-app advice has confirmed that.”
Technical assessments covering highways, heritage, drainage and ecology are ongoing, meaning the final layout and number of homes could still change.
