An appeal into a controversial plan to build 56 homes in Tipton has been dismissed after a public inquiry.

The planning inspectorate threw out the proposal from Devonshire Homes to build on land south of Otter Close after it had already been rejected by the district council.

Inspector David Prentis concluded the ‘principle of the development is not acceptable’, dismissing arguments from the applicant about land supply, sustainable development and the village boundary.

The original application, which includes 22 affordable homes, was submitted in December 2010, and was refused planning permission in March last year by East Devon District Council.

The applicant took the case to appeal, and a three-day public inquiry was held in December at the council’s offices in Sidmouth.

Devonshire Homes had argued the plan should be accepted as there was a shortage of land supply for housing in East Devon.

But the inspector wrote: “The appeal scheme would not contribute to the strategic objective of creating a sustainable urban extension to Exeter and it would add to housing land supply in as part of the district where the existing supply comfortably exceeds requirement.”

Mr Prentis also said the development would not be sustainable, with limited employment opportunities, public transport and amenities in Tipton St John.

He said it would mean the occupants of the 56 bungalows and houses would have to travel out of the village for almost all their activities.

The site also sits outside the village development boundary, and although Devonshire Homes said this was an anomaly, the inspector disagreed and said the land formed part of the countryside and should be afforded protection from development.