Public inquiry to decide on 130 homes for Ottery

A developer has lodged an appeal against the decision to reject its controversial plans to build 130 homes in Ottery.

Redrow Homes has asked for a public inquiry into the way the application for land behind Butts Road was handled, after it was thrown out without even reaching a committee.

The Planning Inspectorate will now determine whether East Devon District Council (EDDC) was right to refuse the 130-home scheme in April because the site is grade two agricultural land, and falls outside the built-up area boundary.

In its appeal Redrow said it will demonstrate ‘the site is an appropriate location for residential development, and that it will deliver significant social and economic benefits to Ottery St Mary whilst minimizing environmental effects’.

The developer estimates the inquiry will last four days, and plan to call two witnesses to speak at the hearing, which will take place later this year.

When the application was first put together a campaign group, Protect Ottery St Mary, was mobilised to protest against the planned development, and 300 letters of objection were sent to EDDC, whose planning officials said there was sufficient reason to reject the scheme before it even got to the council’s Development Management Committee.