THIRTY-TWO homes could soon be built in Yelverton after planning permission was recently approved by Dartmoor National Park Authority, writes Lindsay Turpin.

The planning application was presented by TRAND UK for 28 houses and four flats on a site adjacent to the housing scheme at Briar Tor on land allocated for development by Dartmoor National Park.

Members of the DNPA considered the application recently and decided to grant permission for the units, which will see eleven affordable houses built for local people to rent, principally for the parish of Buckland Monachorum.

The parish council were in support of the planning application, but were concerned over the lack of footpath improvements to the area and vehicle access into and out of Briar Tor.

In order to address concerns, TRAND UK has contributed £16,000 towards education and transport in the area; a contribution to the play park at Leg O'Mutton of £18,000 and a proposal to put in footpaths or contribute to footpaths to the village centre to a cost of £14,000.

Ric Cheadle, chair of Buckland Monachorum Parish Council, said the council was delighted with the outcome: 'The parish council supported this application for two reasons; the recent affordable housing survey indicated the need for more affordable homes in the parish and our Neighbourhood Plan survey showed that most people thought that new homes should be built close to services.

'The proposal met both these requirements.

'We asked for two improvements to be made if the proposal was approved; firstly in the pedestrian access from the development to the shops and secondly to the play park at the Leg o' Mutton and we are delighted that these have been made conditional on the development proceeding.'

Phase one of the Briar Tor housing development saw 16 affordable/local needs residential dwelling units built after planning permission was approved in 2009, comprising two bedroom flats, ten two bedroom houses and four three bedroom houses.

The house styles proposed for phase two are a mix of flats, terraced housing, semi-detached and detached dwellings with a uniform theme of render, timber and slate cladding under natural slate roofs.

Chris Hart, planning team manager for the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said in his report: 'This is a development which has been expected to come forward on land allocated for residential purposes in the recently adopted Local Plan.

'This is a development which aims to deliver on one of the authority's strategic aims in providing affordable housing to satisfy identified local needs.'

Mr Hart added: 'Planning permission needs to be formally issued but I suspect that development could start late spring, early summer.'

l Buckland Monachorum Parish Council is inviting residents to attend a housing day on March 28 where they can see plans for Briar Tor and there will also be information on where housing could be built over the next 15 years.

The event will be at Yelverton Church Hall between 10am and 3pm.