Housing plan for sports area could spark debate

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 150 homes on a Holsworthy site earmarked for recreation have been condemned.

Catesby Property Group has submitted outline plans to Torridge District Council for development of the main part of the former Holsworthy showground.

The firm is proposing recreation and leisure facilities on one third of the site alongside the huge housing development which it says follows extensive public consultation.

Catesby say that its plans will directly help to facilitate six of the eight most popular recreational improvements for the town identified in the public consultation last year.

These include an extension to Stanhope Park to include a new multi-use sports pitch; new changing rooms and toilets linked to the new sports facility and an upgrade of the cricket pavilion in Stanhope Park; improvements to recreational facilities to Stanhope Park; dedicated parking for Holsworthy bowls and cricket club; a skate park for younger people; improved green links to the surrounding countryside.

The new homes include affordable housing, one- to four-bedroom homes and possibly some elderly accommodation, all mostly two storeys in height. The main access route would be to the west of the site, on Trewyn Road, via a new mini-roundabout.

John Acres, Catesby's planning director, said: "We feel the proposals offer a tremendous package of benefits for Holsworthy and we have had encouragement and support from local sports groups.

"Although a few people locally have said the site should be retained just for recreational use, this is not a realistic option. It is most unlikely that there would be any improvements to recreational provision in this area of Holsworthy unless new housing helped to pay for it.

"Holsworthy has been identified as a focus for housing growth by Torridge District Council, while the South West Plan, shortly to be finalised by the Government, will require the council to find sites for many more new homes in the future.

"We believe the former Holsworthy showground site is extremely well located in relation to local facilities such as jobs, schools and health services compared with other potential housing sites and can deliver important recreational improvements for the town.

"We feel it will produce a genuinely sustainable development for the town."

Mr Acres said funding from the development will support further recreation and educational facilities in the town.

Town and district councillor Richard Brown said: "This application will be subject to huge discussion by Torridge District Council and it is up to the council if it controversially reverses the decision to earmark that land for recreation.

"There will be housing development in Holsworthy in the future but at the moment, that site is not proposed for it.

"This is a wishlist and as far as I know the site is still designated in the Local Development Framework as purely recreational which is a very high priority for the people of Holsworthy who do not appear to be looking for more housing.

"People also have to be a little wary about the 106 agreements which can differ substantially from what is proposed."

While the majority of the former showfield is owned by Catesby, Torridge District Council still has possession of 2.67 acres and the authority approved its own plans to build 41 homes on the site, 17 of which are earmarked as affordable in July last year.

The authority is looking to sell its corner and has been in talks with potential buyers for the site which could be sold for more than £600,000.

If the Catesby plans are approved, the development could start in 2010 creating about 70 new construction jobs.