Lamerton Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan has taken giant steps forward, with organisers predicting they could complete the draft within months.

A year ago, following public concern about the content of the draft plan, the parish council paused its preparation for a review. That review is now well under way, under the guidance of parish councillors Ann Cole, Karen Dreher and Jess Evans, who say the results are extremely positive.

‘Parishioners have responded superbly to our call for help in finalising the plan,’ Cllr Dreher said. ‘Eleven volunteers have come forward to join us on the Neighbourhood Plan Group and we are in good shape to complete the work by early summer.’

“While the previous draft plan was mainly fine, there are some parts that do need to be revisited and updated, especially the parts that deal with housing, where the situation has changed significantly. Some sites have been built since the plan started and the previous Housing Needs Survey is five years out of date. We’re also taking the opportunity to strengthen the parts of the plan dealing with conservation and local green spaces.’

Councillor Ann Cole, who is taking the lead on conservation, added: ‘The beautiful Grade 2* listed Church of St Peter, at the heart of Lamerton’s Conservation Area is an iconic feature of the village and a wide area around. It is vital that we protect this heritage and its setting, and the neighbourhood plan will give us the power to achieve this.’

To bring the housing part of the plan up to date, every household in Lamerton parish should have received a Housing Needs Survey through the post. This is being carried out for the parish council by not-for-profit organisation Devon Communities Together.

Cllr Evans said: ‘It’s extremely important that as many people as possible complete the survey. Getting a clear and up to date idea of the parish’s need for housing – especially affordable housing – is vital for us to understand how much land we need to allocate in the plan.’

Group planning advisor Graham Parker is also asking landowners and developers to come forward with the land that they believe should be allocated in the plan. Details, including a form for people wishing to suggest development sites, are on the parish council website. Over the next few months the revised plan will be put to residents and businesses of Lamerton parish for their comments.

More details are on the Lamerton Parish Council website or email [email protected]

News of the plan’s progress comes as property developer Baker Estates has lodged an appeal with the Government’s Planning Inspectorate over West Devon Borough Council’s refusal of its application to build 20 on a greenfield site behind The Farriers at Lamerton.

The council turned the application down in June after receiving 26 letters of objection from residents.