MILLWOOD Homes has received permission to extend the boundaries of a proposed £80m housing development – but will devise two different master plans to put to public vote.

Millwood has obtained approval from South Hams Council to extend the West Dartmouth site and has been advised to formulate separate master plans to ascertain how the public want the extensions to be applied.

Millwood's planning manager Judith Gannon told a meeting of the town council: 'Sticking to the development plan document approved site would mean that the company would only be able to build 231 new homes instead of the 405 planned, which is no good to anyone.

'One of the main concerns is that Milton Farm cannot be considered part of the development since the landowner declined to sell.'

A South Hams Council spokesman said: 'It was not a public meeting – Millwood Homes invited officers and members to attend in order for them to fully explain their reasons for asking to extend the boundary of the development area and to give those attending an opportunity to ask questions over the development land capacity report prepared for them by WYG Planning and Design – their consultants – before working up a detailed master plan to be submitted to the council.

'This report has been available since April and can be obtained from Millwood Homes on request.

'There is still a considerable amount of work to be done in developing the master plan which will involve the local community.'

Town councillors were concerned the land Millwood proposed to build on would be a great loss to the town. Deputy mayor Cllr Rob Lyon said: 'Building on Little Cotton caravan park would mean the loss of a good asset and a great deal of revenue to the town.

'I also don't see any sensible reason to move the park and ride and I am worried that Millwood Homes will build on proposed employment land in order to reach their targets.'

Cllr Tessa Galleoni said: 'It's all very well these houses being built, but how many of them are actually affordable?

'We just don't need any more second homes here, it's time to look after our locals and make sure we get what's best for them.'

However, county councillor Jonathan Hawkins said the community should be excited by the plans.

The master plans will be up for public consultation on September 18 at the Baptist church and the development steering group will discuss them the following night at Townstal Community Hall.