The West Dart masterplan of more than 400 homes could create an isolated new community cut off from the rest of the town, the Dartmouth and Kingswear Society has warned.

The masterplan for the new homes and employment units on the western edge of Dartmouth – which has taken almost two years to put together – is about to be considered by South Hams Council.

The Dartmouth and Kingswear Society has said that it is 'good in parts'.

But in a statement it has declared: 'Its greatest weakness is that there will be an isolated, third Dartmouth community, cut off from Townstal and without even a safe pedestrian or cycle link from the houses of the new development to the schools on the Dartmouth Academy site.'

One reason for the problem is the decision not to move the town's park and ride site to the far edge of the development and redevelop the existing site.

Also, said the society: 'For a combination of reasons, there will be an extensive swathe of 'green' land between the housing of Townstal and that of the new development.

'The farmland is an immoveable fact because the owners of Milton Farm do not wish to sell their land for development, but alternative solutions to the location and very necessary enhancement of the sports fields were possible.

'However, they have been dismissed, largely because of short-term cost considerations. In the society's view, the long-term costs, both financial and social, of an isolated third community will be much greater, and building houses on the land adjacent to Townstal should have taken priority in the interests of a 'joined-up' community.

'There will now be, in effect, a separation zone making it impossible for the new community to be 'joined-up' with Townstal.

'The presentation of the masterplan will obscure this fact by showing Milton Farm as developable land having the same status as the land that is actually going to be developed.

'As things stand, it cannot be developed. No one should be misled on this point.

'A further knock-on effect of this decision is the substantial disregard of the boundaries set in the Local Development Framework.

'The society accepts the need for some flexibility over these so that housing can be built at an acceptable density, but development will be pushed out along the western edges, creating a type of urban sprawl along the A3122 and will also drift southward, creating a negative visual impact on the designated South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.'

The society said the plan also had strengths, including the 'opportunity for a substantial element of affordable housing, as well as social housing and the possibility of attracting new employment opportunities to the area'.

The statement calls on South Hams Council too take a 'strong lead' on both these issues, with the active involvement of Dartmouth Town Council, Stoke Fleming Parish Council and other local organisations.

The 'community hub' at the Townstal/ West Dartmouth interface will provide job-sustaining services and act as the principal means of integration of the two communities and the possibility of the 'hub' including medical services is clearly important to a wide section of the Dartmouth community, added the society.

The society also believes that a new roundabout at the entrance to Sainsbury's will provide an adequate 'urban gateway' to the development.

The statement added: 'It is essential that the West Dartmouth development does not go off at half-cock. There are many important decisions still to be made before the development is completed.

'The society believes that the masterplan, despite its significant shortcomings over the separateness of the new community, does much to strengthen the local economy by sensitively expanding the local built environment while limiting the impact on important wildlife habitats and the district's natural beauty.

'It calls on all parties to stay focused on achieving these goals so that the development becomes a tremendous asset to the town and surrounding areas.'