Up to 1,150 new homes to be built on fields

Developers will build up to 1,150 new homes, a school and a GP surgery on fields outside Newton Abbot

More than 1,100 new homes will be built on countryside in Devon after plans were given the green light.

Developers plan to build the homes, along with retirement accommodation, a primary school and a GP surgery, on land on the edge of Newton Abbot.

The plans came in three applications that have been approved by Teignbridge District Council - with one for an outline plan for up to 900 homes, another application for up to 250 homes and a third application for a new link road.

The Newton Abbot and District Civic Society objected to the plans - describing them as "classic urban sprawl... closing the gap between the existing Newton Abbot area and the A38".

One in five of the homes built will have to be affordable

Planning officers at Teignbridge recommended approval of all of the plans.

Developers will have to pay £1.2m for 15 Gypsy and traveller pitches and another £400,000 for bus subsidies as part of the 900-home development.

The homes will be delivered in a joint venture between housebuilders Bloor and Redrow.

One in five of the homes built will have to be affordable.

The 900-home planning application takes in both sides of Ashburton Road and runs up across fields past Seale Hayne and almost as far as Trago Mills.

These housing plans are separate from the other major developments around Newton Abbot at nearby Whitehill and south of the town at the controversial Wolborough Barton site.

Gary Taylor, executive member for planning at Teignbridge District Council, said the development would be good for Newton Abbot

Local resident Chris Spooner came to the meeting to speak against the plans.

He said: "I'm against these plans for the lack of services in the area.

"We're already stretched for police, ambulances, hospitals, doctors and secondary schools so to add more people to our local town - how can we possibly manage?"

Gary Taylor, the executive member for planning on Teignbridge District Council, said the development was good news for people in Devon in need of homes.

He said: "There's a pressing housing need across the country and particularly in this area.

"So we do need the houses that have been approved today.

"We also need the affordable houses that come with this development and the infrastructure that it also provides."

The developers said they hoped to build about 100 homes per year and to begin work in the autumn of 2025.