CONCERNED community representatives from East Devon fear a “housing explosion” if blueprints for the region’s future go ahead.

CONCERNED community representatives from East Devon fear a regional “housing explosion” if blueprints for the area’s future go ahead.

Local Development Framework (LDF) proposals include 19,400 East Devon homes with a policy of two-and-a-half acres of employment land for every 250 dwellings.

Ottery St Mary town councillor Claire Wright fears East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) current vision will “lead to industrial estates springing up even in most vulnerable countryside.”

District Councillor Roger Giles said the proposed level of development will “horrify” many in the region, adding: “It has placed a very great threat against a great deal of our beautiful countryside.”

He fears he and colleagues are in a “catch 22” situation where it will not be possible to introduce “significant new themes” into the council’s current blueprints, and added: “We do not like the huge and damaging housing figures – but we have been told by the officer we cannot introduce much lower housing figures later in the process.”

Mr Giles said he accepts a need for more affordable housing, but wants to “strike a balance” with “what people want”, and whether the countryside will be harmed.