This week, the North Devon Council held a Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 26 June 2024. The main topic was the consideration of an application for planning permission to build 25 houses and a 60-bed care home in Landkey. The committee ultimately decided to refuse the application.

Application for the Construction of 25 Dwellings and a 60-Bed Care Home

The proposal, identified as application 23/0040/FUL, was to develop land North West of Summerfield in Landkey. The meeting featured a range of speakers both supporting and opposing the application. Key concerns included the development's location outside the settlement boundary of Landkey, as defined in the North Devon Local Plan 2011-2031¹, and the potential strain on local infrastructure. Additionally, there were worries that the design of the proposed development, particularly the care home, would not align with the village's character.

The layout of the scheme would result in an incongruous and harmful development, which fails to respect the local character of this part of Landkey.

-- Devon County Council, in their capacity as consultees on the application.
Taken from page 131 of the Public reports pack 26th-Jun-2024 14.00 Planning Committee

In contrast, local ward member Councillor David Sloley stressed the urgent need for care home beds in North Devon. The applicant's agent, Mr Steve Ford of Ford Property & Development, also argued in favour, stating that the site's current status outside the settlement limit should not be a decisive factor against the application.

Despite these arguments, the committee voted to refuse the application. This decision underscores the council's commitment to maintaining the character and infrastructure of local communities as outlined in the North Devon Local Plan 2011-2031.