We, the undersigned, call on Mid Devon District Council to refuse or reconsider the proposed 170-home development near Halfway House, affecting Willand and Halberton, unless and until critical infrastructure and planning concerns are properly addressed.

This is not an isolated case.

Over 500 residents have already signed a petition opposing the 125-home Silver Street development in Willand. That petition highlighted a clear issue: housing growth in the Culm Valley is being approved without the infrastructure required to support it.

This latest proposal represents a further escalation of that pattern.

Key concerns include:

• Conflict with the Willand Neighbourhood Plan (2025) 

A democratically adopted and legally binding plan, supported by approximately 90% of residents, which does not allocate this site for housing.

• Infrastructure Already Beyond Capacity 

Local services are under significant strain. GP provision is already operating at approximately 43% over capacity, with additional development placing further pressure on healthcare, education, and essential services.

• B3181 – Critical Pressure Point 

The B3181 is frequently congested, regularly used as a diversion route for the M5, and has experienced repeated flooding closures lasting several days during sustained rainfall since nearby developments.

• Cumulative Impact Not Properly Assessed 

This proposal follows multiple recent developments, including the Silver Street scheme and a further 125-home development already built. Decisions are being made in isolation, without a robust cumulative impact assessment.

• Loss of Agricultural Land & Green Gap 

The development would result in the loss of valuable agricultural land and further erode the green gap between Cullompton and Willand, increasing the risk of settlement coalescence.

• Unsustainable Distribution of Growth 

While housing delivery is important, directing large-scale development toward smaller villages like Willand — without infrastructure — is not sustainable. Growth should be prioritised in larger towns such as Tiverton and Cullompton.

• Environmental & Public Health Concerns 

The site places future residents between the M5 and existing industrial/agricultural uses, raising concerns regarding air quality, noise, and long-term health impacts.

This petition forms part of the wider “Protect Culm Valley – Infrastructure First” campaign, alongside a live Judicial Review fundraising effort relating to the Silver Street development.

We support sustainable development. However, growth must be aligned with infrastructure that is delivered in advance, legally secured, and properly assessed.

We call on Mid Devon District Council to:

- Refuse or significantly revise this application 

- Undertake a full cumulative impact assessment across the Culm Valley 

- Prioritise infrastructure delivery before further approvals 

- Give proper weight to the Willand Neighbourhood Plan 

Over 500 residents have already spoken. This pattern cannot continue.

Protect the Culm Valley. Infrastructure First.

Started by Toby Fernbank, Willand resident & Founder of Protect Culm Valley = Build Infrastructure first