DARTMOUTH'S long-awaited West Dart development is likely to include just 14 per cent affordable housing – less than half what most people had hoped for. Millwood Homes says it would like to have provided more social housing as part of a scheme for 240 homes on land next to Townstal Road but has had to work within policies laid down by South Hams Council. And some Dartmouth town councillors – although disappointed at the outline plan submitted this week – have criticised the district council for dealing the developer a tough hand. Dartmouth went through two years of consultation and exhibitions to produce an £80m 'masterplan' for the site between Townstal and Venn Lane earmarked for 400 new homes – only to see it all collapse last year. Now Millwood Homes has submitted an outline plan for just over half the original homes that were to be built by Bloor Homes, with just 28 of them affordable. The mixed use development will include up to 2.7 hectares of employment land, a local centre, formal and informal open space and play areas, landscaping, cycle path and footpath links and associated infrastructure, served off new primary and secondary accesses at Townstal Road. Financial contributions would also be given to enhance the park and ride facility. Millwood Homes planning manager Mike Smith said the scheme had been 'reigned back in', so the development was within the boundary of South Hams Council's Development Plan Document, and there was not enough land available to expand other options.

For the full story see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle