THE first stage of Ivybridge’s eastern expansion has been given the green light, with the decision by district councillors to grant outline permission for 198 new homes.

Hannick Homes is proposing the building alongside public open space, land for employment uses including a health centre, a neighbourhood centre, and a new roundabout. The site surrounds the park and ride, and would see development both sides of Rutt Lane, and on a small parcel of land south of Exeter Road.

Members of South Hams Council’s development management committee voted to approve the plans by a majority of seven to two, with one abstention.

The proposal was supposed to come before the committee in July, but was pulled to allow the developer more time to justify the unusually low level of affordable housing, and address issues with the design of a proposed new roundabout on Exeter Road.

Hannick subsequently commissioned a ‘most searching assessment of viability by an independent expert’. The expert concluded that the offer of 20 per cent affordable housing and a £1.8 million ‘Section 106’ contribution was reasonable, that the developer would not make unreasonable profits, and that the balance of employment land with houses was acceptable.

For more on this story, see this week’s Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette