A MAJOR application for 81 homes on the former Hazeldon Preparatory School in Tavistock has been refused.

Members of West Devon Borough Council’s development and licensing committee met on Tuesday (April 17) to discuss the outline planning application for the site which is situated on Parkwood Road.

The application was for the demolition of the existing structure — not the Grade II Listed Hazeldon House — and site redevelopment, associated access, parking, circulation, open space, landscaping and supporting infrastructure.

Due to its complexity Cllr Diana Moyse and Cllr Neil Jory both recommended that the application went before the committee due to the size of the proposed development, location, levels of local interest and the fact that Tavistock Town Council had supported the plans.

In the planning application report, officers recommended refusal on five grounds: the proposed residential development was not in a sustainable location for open-market and affordable housing; it would impact the local landscape character; the proposed development could harm the historical significance of Hazeldon House; it would result in the loss of existing open space, sports and recreational land; and that the sustainability benefits of the development were outweighed by adverse impacts.

The application stated that the homes would be built on the disused site but as parts of the site were previously used as school playing fields Sport England objected, while the Dartmoor National Park Authority had ‘reservations’ of the redevelopment as it had the potential to cause ‘harmful impact’.

Planning officer Kate Cantwell said: ‘While the town council supports the scheme, there is significant local objection.’

Councillors heard from speakers, both for and against the development, during the meeting. Chairman Cllr Philip Sanders proposed that they supported the recommendation for refusal and this was seconded by Cllr Graham Parker.

Cllr Bill Cann said: ‘This site is way outside of Tavistock and I don’t think it will support 81 houses — it is inappropriate for 81 houses or any other houses for that matter. This is a lovely bit of countryside and we are certainly building too much in the countryside — this is a greenfield site and I will not be supporting this, the officers got this right 100 per cent.’

Cllr Baldwin supported the application on the grounds that it would support the local economy and stop the site from becoming derelict.

At the meeting, Keith Hollinshead, a governor at Mount Kelly for over ten years, urged members to have ‘common sense’ and think of how the proposal would boost the town: ‘This is not an outline application for a development to make a “fast buck”, this will bring much needed houses and affordable houses.

‘If you want to kill the golden goose then refuse the application but if you want to see the college and the town prosper financially then approve the application.’

Members voted to refuse the application by seven votes to two.