Planning inquiry to be held into 1,200-home scheme

A planning inquiry will be held into the highly controversial 1,200-home development at Wolborough on the edge of Newton Abbot.

The inquiry is expected to look into questions about the impact of the development on Wolborough Fen, a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

The planning inspector Tom Bristow said a full planning inquiry was necessary given the extent of the dispute between developers Vistry and Teignbridge District Council.

Rows over development at the site have been going on for more than 10 years.

At a planning hearing on Wednesday held online, Bristow said there was no statement of common ground between the council and Vistry and added: "I've rarely encountered as wide a gulf as I have here."

He said: "I do not think I can comfortably achieve the objectives of fairness, openness and impartiality, given the complexity of the evidence and the gulf in the positions."

Outline planning permission was granted by the planning inspector in 2021 for 1,200 homes, a school and two care homes.

Teignbridge District Council previously issued a stop notice to Vistry Homes in April 2025 which expired and the developer restarted work in the autumn.

Richard Daws, Independent member of Teignbridge District Council, asked the inspector if the developer was proposing to carry on working at the site but the inspector said that was "outside my remit".

A spokesman for Vistry said work would continue "where commencement has been lawfully accepted by the council" and all the necessary conditions were in place.

Peter Sadler, managing director for Vistry South West, said he welcomed the decision to move to a full inquiry.

He said: "This will ensure a transparent and rigorous examination of the issues and allow all of the technical evidence to be considered in full."

Lord Banner KC, who is representing Vistry Homes, told the hearing the "cost of delay will be astronomical" to the developer.

Lord Banner is one of the country's leading planning barristers who has handled high level cases such as the Chinese embassy and expansion plans at Heathrow Airport.

The Planning Inspector expressed concern that Teignbridge District Council had chosen to go into the hearing with no formal legal representation.

The inspector said he would arrange the inquiry "as soon as possible" with the aim of it being held in April.

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