CONTROVERSIAL plans to build more than 70 houses west of Ivybridge have made an unwelcome reappearance less than three months after being thrown out by South Hams councillors.

A Persimmon Homes scheme to build 77 properties on two fields north of Woodland Road met fierce opposition from locals when it was first put forward in 2014.

Having been recommended for approval by South Hams Council planners, members of the planning committee debated the plans three times before finally rejecting them in April. The committee felt the scheme was badly designed, and the small changes made by Persimmon were insufficient.

But now the housebuilder has returned to the fray, submitting plans for 74 houses on the site. The layout is broadly the same, although there appears to be fewer homes in the southern part of the site, currently the lower field.

Ivybridge resident Steve Pitcher spoke in opposition to the plans at one of the planning committee meetings that debated the proposals. Reacting to the new application, he said: ’At first glance it doesn’t look that different from last time around.

’We’ll look at it, but my initial thought is that we’ll object, and for similar reasons to last time. That it’s overdevelopment of the town, that it gives no benefit to the town as there’s no employment space, and really we believe the site is too small and steeply sloped to allow appropriate design, given the requirements for affordable housing and drainage.’

Ominously for those against new housing on the site, it is included as a suggested location for development in the new joint local plan put forward by South Hams Council, Plymouth Council and West Devon Council. The suggested allocation extends into further fields north of Persimmon’s current application site.

The site and others in Ivybridge and the wider area can be viewed by visiting the joint local plan portal, found at www.southhams.gov.uk/jointlocalplan. Feedback must be submitted by Friday, August 12.

To view and comment on the latest Persimmon application, visit www.southhams.gov.uk, go to the planning pages and search for application reference 1971/16/FUL.