Highway and drainage infrastructure at Langford Bridge Farm, Newton Abbot

What was proposed

The application sought approval of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for highway, drainage and wider site-levelling infrastructure.

“This application seeks the approval of reserved matters for the ‘Primary Infrastructure’ of the development, required to be submitted following the approval on 24 th July 2020 of application reference 19/00238/MAJ (“hereon referred to as the Hybrid Permission”) for:”

“This application seeks approval of the Reserved Matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the Infrastructure Phase of the development, for the construction of highway and drainage infrastructure as well as wider site levelling. The land identified as the Infrastructure Phase of the development is indicated in the light pink/diagonal red hatching on the extract of the plan below (phasing plan approved under application reference 19/00238/COND15).”

Officer report

The site and earlier approvals

The infrastructure phase lies south of Newton Abbot, west of Phase 2, north of the approved link road and beside football pitches and Priory Road.

“The site is located on the southern side of Newton Abbot, approximately 2km south of Newton Abbot town centre.”

“The Infrastructure Phase lies to the west of the Phase 2 development which gains access from Kingskerswell Road to the east. To the north of the Infrastructure Phase is the approved ‘Wolborough Link Road’ and future residential and Local Centre phases of the development. To the east lies a complex of football pitches and buildings associated with Buckland Athletic Football Club and Priory Road runs along the southern boundary of the site.”

Officer report

Drainage and remaining conditions

The drainage strategy included attenuation and exceedance routes, but detailed technical drainage approval and several outline conditions remained outstanding.

“The application proposes a single attenuation pond to the east of Kingskerswell Road and to the north east of the existing smaller attenuation pond that is being constructed in connection with the Access Works subject to detailed approval within the hybrid permission. The extract below indicates this part of the proposal in more detail.”

“The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) has confirmed that it holds no ‘in-principle’ objections to the proposal. Nevertheless, the LLFA has advised that the detailed design of the proposed surface water drainage system will be required for the purposes of discharging condition 12 and this can be determined under a separate application to discharge that condition, rather than under the remit of this current ‘reserved matters’ application.”

Officer report

What consultees said

The Lead Local Flood Authority withdrew its objection, while highways, Natural England, biodiversity and other consultees raised no remaining objections or concerns.

“April 2025 No objection. Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) 9 May 2025 Object because the applicant has not submitted sufficient information in order to demonstrate that all aspects of the surface water drainage management plan have been considered.”

“Meeting held with LLFA to discuss outstanding requirements. Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) 13 November 2025 Objection is withdrawn and LLFA raises no in-principle objections to the planning application at this stage. Separate ‘conditions discharge’ application to be submitted to discharge the surface water condition 12.”

Officer report

Public representations

The parish council made no comment, the town council noted the application, and no third-party representations were received.

“Consulted on 11th April 2025. Response from Newton Abbot Town Council, following its meeting on 22nd April 2025, that receipt of the application had been noted.”

“No representations, either in support or against the application proposal, have been received from third parties.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A public supporter speaking for the applicant addressed the master plan, roads, drainage, landscaping, lighting and consultees’ responses.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed parking, highway adoption, cycleways, drainage, lighting, speed limits and the separate approval required for technical drainage details.

“In response to further questions, advice given included: - Cycleways and drainage will be of the standards required. - Dimensions of the road was detailed at paragraph 6.19 of the agenda report. - Although not relevant to this application the Highway Authority can take action against debris on roads.”

Minutes

The committee’s vote

A proposal to approve the application with an additional parking-related informative was made and seconded before the decision was resolved.

“It was proposed by Councillor Palethorpe, seconded by Councillor Nutley that the application be approved as set out in the agenda, with the additional informative regarding the road design to minimise on street parking as suggested by Councillors Bullivant and Macgregor above.”

“RESERVED MATTERS BE GRANTED, subject to the following conditions and an additional INFORMATIVE which will advise that future developments related to the hereby approved road should be designed to minimise the reliance upon on street parking. The final wording to be agreed by the Head of Development Management in consultation with Councillors Sanders as Chair, Bullivant and MacGregor.”

Minutes

Conditions and further approvals

The decision required approved plans, landscaping, replacement planting and drainage implementation, while outline conditions and the legal agreement remained applicable.

“Development in accordance with approved plans Date Received Drawing/Reference Number Description 26 Feb 2025 WOLB2/3-1300 REV P1 Site Location Plan 07 Apr 2025 ES23.051 PH4-02.03 REV P1 Primary Infrastructure Highway Sections 19 Aug 2025 ES23.051 03.50 REV P1 Drainage Outfall Plan 03 Nov 2025 ES23.051 SK-03.20 REV P3 Site-Wide Drainage Strategy - Catchment Areas 03 Nov 2025 ES23.051 30.04 REV T1 Adoptable Highway Construction Details - Sheet 4 03 Nov 2025 ES23,051 REV A…”

“If within a period of ten years from the date of implementation and completion of the approved soft landscaping scheme, should any part of the soft landscaping be removed, uprooted or destroyed, or dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority seriously damaged or defective, it shall be replaced by planting as originally approved, unless the Local Planning Authority gives its written approval to any variation.”

Minutes