Opposition grows over plans for 175 homes on green fields in Brixham

Opposition is mounting in Brixham after plans were unveiled for homes and a hotel on green fields on the outskirts of town.

Developer Monksbridge Park Ltd plans to file a planning application in the coming weeks for 175 new homes in the fields alongside the junction and skate park at Monksbridge.

It says the land is currently unused and has no public access, and homes there will help to meet Torbay’s need for new homes. The company says it will consider all comments made by the public after it published its plans online, and make any necessary changes before submitting an outline application to Torbay Council.

An area within the site will be earmarked for local shops, a gym, a hotel, a café or ‘hot food offerings’. Details will be announced later, but the developer says jobs will be created.

Opponents, however, say the fields alongside the main road in and out of Brixham are one of the town’s last green spaces and should remain that way.

And now one of the people campaigning against the project has made an official complaint to Torbay Council saying that the consultation around its Draft Local Plan was defective.

The document sets out a long-term strategy for the bay, and identifies certain areas for housing, retail or industrial use.

Campaigner Michael Furminger says the consultation, which closed earlier this month, was online only and did not include paper copies in Brixham’s library or any other public building.

The council, however, says printed summaries were available at its drop-in events, and could be downloaded online for printing. It says there is no requirement to produce printed copies at this stage, but copies will be available for inspection at the next.

Mr Furminger said: “The so-called consultation was purely online, which discriminates against those unable to afford internet at home and those whose disabilities or special needs make it impossible for them to use screens and or communicate digitally.”

He said the consultation ran to hundreds of pages, and it was not realistic for people to respond properly using their phones.

He went on: “The council’s failure to place paper copies locally breaches its own Statement of Community Involvement made as required by law. If the council’s fine words about consulting with local people mean anything it should re-run the consultation to include placing paper copies in Brixham’s library.

“It knows the consultation was defective and now it is trying to paper over the cracks. The consultation should be re-run.”

But a Torbay Council spokesperson said all comments would be considered during the next stage of the Local Plan.

The spokesperson went on: “As part of the consultation, we held three public drop-in events for people to talk to the team – in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. These were held in different locations at different times of the day to allow people to attend a session that suited their work or family commitments.

“The planning team provided printed summaries of the local plan at each of the events to allow people to take away copies for reference. Copies were also left at Paignton Library.

“We understand that some people may have wished to read a physical printed copy of the plan for consultation. The council facilitated this by including a link on our consultation page to download a printable PDF version. Printed copies were also available by request.

“The council is not required to produce a paper document at the Regulation 18 stage. This stage marks an early phase of Local Plan preparation as the content develops. Feedback received will help shape the Regulation 19 Publication Version of the Local Plan. We intend to publish this in late summer 2026 for a further six‑week consultation period.

“At Regulation 19, the Local Plans are required to be available for inspection at the council’s principal office and other appropriate locations during normal office hours, although Local Plans are increasingly delivered in digital formats and the recent consultation used an interactive online document.”