Meet at: Field entrance to the east of Broadlands Farm, Saunton Road, Braunton, Devon EX33 1HG.

RE: Erection of 9 dwellings for Social Rent for residents of or those with a local connection to Braunton Parish. Report by Lead Planning Officer (Major Developments) (attached).

Also present was: Steven Reed, Senior Historical Environment Officer, Devon County Council.

The Chair outlined the site visit meeting procedure and etiquette to the Committee and attendees, and confirmed that the public had permission to go onto the site.

The Corporate and Community Services Officer confirmed the following:

• That any observations which were made during the course of the site visit by Members of the Planning Committee were limited to those issues identified by the Planning Officer in consultation with the Chair of Planning Committee, and the Ward Member, or Members of the area where the application was located, as set out in Part 3, Annexe 2, of the North Devon District Constitution.
• Such observations were made after viewing the site and on the basis of the limited information available. Any such observations were not, nor should they be, taken as an indication that the application was acceptable or not acceptable.
• A full presentation and consideration of all the planning issues would be made when the matter was determined by the Planning Committee.

The Lead Planning Officer (Major Developments) addressed the committee and advised of the historical significance of the Great Field (in which the site was located). The Great Field was an example of medieval open field farming systems, or ‘strip’ fields.

The Committee were given copies of:

• A historical map of Braunton and the surrounding area (dated 1904) which identified the location of the plot with an ‘X’.
• An aerial view of the site and a location plan (both contained within the agenda).

The Committee members were shown the following:

• The location of the site within the Great Field, and the location of the proposed 9 dwellings
• The boundary of the site.
• The existing farm (Broadlands) alongside the northern boundary of the site

The Lead Planning Officer (Major Developments) advised that:

• The plot was bordered to the north by the main road (B3231), and that other nearby developments dated from approximately the 1970s.
• The proposed dwellings would provide housing for those with ties to Braunton.
• There were no design details, nor specific details, in relation to the proposed development as yet, as it was a Permission in Principle. More details on this would be discussed at Committee.

The Committee continued through the site to the south and viewed the larger, unenclosed portion of the Great Field.  The Committee noted the expansive views across the site, the public right-of-way across the site, and the boundaries.

The Devon County Council Senior Historical Environment Officer advised that there were only two other similar sites within the UK, and this was the largest of the three. Although not a scheduled monument, Historic England had advised that any proposed planning could be controlled under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as an undesignated heritage asset.  This gave weight despite being unscheduled.

The Committee proceeded to the location as marked ‘3’ on the agenda: this was at the top of Stallards/bottom of Willoway Lane in Saunton Park to observe the elevated view of the site in context.  They could clearly see the site of the proposed dwellings, alongside the existing farm, and the overall area of the Great Field within the landscape.