TOWN councillors in Teignmouth are ‘delighted’ its Neighbourhood Plan has been approved. 

Following years in the making, now it is in place, Teignmouth will have more money from developers to spend on projects in the town. 

It is now a legal document which will considered alongside Teignbridge Local Plan when decisions are made on planning applications. 

Cllr Joan Atkins, who chaired the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group for several years, said: ‘It is really important to implement the Plan now and use it ourselves as well as encourage townsfolk and Teignbridge Planning Committee when looking at planning applications.’

The town council will now receive an increased share of any Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments made by developers up from 15per cent to 25per cent through the acceptance of the plan.

The steering group was made up of several councillors, community stakeholders and their planning consultant, Stuart Todd, supported by officers from Teignbridge Council.

Cllr Atkins said: ‘The group drove the plan through the maze of repeated consultation required in the process, with the attendant analysis of responses, refining the plan, and then on to submission for external examination and approval to go out to Referendum. 

‘The Referendum result was a resounding Yes from the people of Teignmouth, nearly 80per cent of those who voted said Yes, that it should be used to assess planning applications.

‘The best news though is financial, although it can’t apply to the last big development in Teignmouth at Higher Exeter Road, in future the town will receive 25per cent of the CIL money paid by developers whose schemes are eligible. 

‘This is, in effect, “free” money to the town and will go to making infrastructure improvements.

‘On behalf of the members of the Steering Group, my sincere thanks go to everyone for the kind words that have accompanied the approval of the Plan and to the people of Teignmouth for sharing with us their hopes and ideas on how the future of Teignmouth should look. 

‘Now the serious work begins, to implement the Plan and monitor it continually against the ever-changing planning legislation frameworks with which it will need to comply.’