A ‘FINELY balanced’ decision on whether to allow 70 homes near Newton Ferrers has been deferred, with councillors wondering whether they were being ‘seduced by the promise of affordable homes’.

The application by Mr and Mrs Yonghe of Yealmpton is seeking permission for a mixed-use development, including the homes, allotments, community facilities and recreation and employment land west of Collaton Park, between Newton Ferrers and Yealmpton.

Despite the very high level of affordable housing proposed at 50 per cent, the development’s size and relative isolation led one councillor to say that it would be tantamount to building a new ­village.

As it would represent a major development within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, members of South Hams Council’s development management committee had to decide whether there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ that justified the proposal.

Planning officer Thomas Jones, outlining the issues for councillors, said they had to consider whether there was a proven need for that number of homes; whether alternative sites outside the AONB could be found; and whether the impact on the environment from the development would be acceptable.

Mr Jones said a housing assessment in 2008 had identified a need for 32 houses, but 14 planned for Parsonage Road were very likely to be given permission shortly.

A new housing needs assessment for the parish ought to be carried out, he said.

The former Ministry of Defence site is part agricultural and part previously developed brownfield land, with large areas of concrete hardstanding, some of which is grown over with grass.

Objector John Tighe spoke on behalf of residents and the River Yealm & District Association, which represents 350 households in Newton and Noss. He said the overwhelming local response was to object to the plans, pointing to the site’s elevated position, the risk of light pollution and the fact that it was not really brownfield land, but a large area that is used for grazing.

He said there were significant sustainability issues, in that the development was 2.5km from the nearest shop and completely separate from Newton and Noss and Yealmpton.

Applicant Richard Yonghe said: ‘Everyone agrees that the parish needs employment and housing, so where better to build than this site,

a wide area of MOD concrete? This is the only site in the parish that can deliver homes for local families to live, grow and work.’

Speaking on behalf of Newton and Noss Parish Council, vice-chair Alan Cooper said this was the most significant application presented to it in 20 years and he personally endorsed the council’s objection.

He noted that there were currently plans to build 6,500 homes within a few miles, including Sherford and developments in Wembury and Plymstock. Also, if approved, the plans would increase the size of the village by 12 per cent, which was ‘wrong for the community and wrong for the people who live at Collaton’.