DEVELOPER Millwood Homes has launched an appeal against South Hams Council’s decision to throw out plans for the West Dart.

The district council refused planning permission for 240 homes and employment units in Dartmouth after an independent viability study found that the proposed 15 per cent affordable housing provision was unacceptably low.

The officer-delegated decision was announced earlier this year following months of speculation.

Afterwards Millwood’s planning officer Mike Smith said the company was considering its options and had not ruled out the possibility of a planning inquiry before a government inspector.

Millwood has always maintained it has struggled to come up with an affordable homes package that the community would find acceptable.

Now it has submitted a formal appeal to the Secretary of State for State for Communities and Local Government. A date for the hearing has yet to be announced but representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by Thursday, October 29.

The controversial application for 240 homes on land next to Townstal Road has been on the cards for more than two years after numerous consultation exercises. An outline planning application was submitted in July 2014.

The mixed use development includes 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, all served off new primary and secondary access at Townstal Road.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

For more on this story, see this week’s Dartmouth Chronicle