East Devon District Council could be given greater flexibility on the number of new houses required in the area, as part of a government consultation on planning changes. 

The council has agreed that no further discussion or decisions will be made on potential development sites across the district, until the government has made a decision on housing targets.

The news will be welcomed by many residents who raised concerns that East Devon's proposals for up to 1,050 news houses in Axminster would place too much pressure on local infrastructure and the environment. 

These concerns were acknowledged at this week's Strategic Planning Committee, following news that the government may give councils more choice over the number of new homes being built.

EDDC leader, Cllr Paul Arnott, put forward a motion that no further discussions or decisions on potential sites take place until the government makes its decision. 

EDDC's Strategic Planning Committee agreed the motion, which means council officers will only continue technical work needed to support production of the Local Plan, such as water, sewerage and other environmental matters.

Cllr Arnott said: "Last year, our council wrote to the Government calling for an urgent re-analysis of inflated housing need numbers imposed on the communities of East Devon.

"Pending any reply, we continued with the Local Plan consultation as required by law.

"This week - at the first opportunity to do so - I proposed that we put the sites aspect of the work on hold until what we hope will be confirmation that our housing numbers will be greatly reduced.

"I was very pleased that this won cross-party support. The ball is now in the government's court to deliver a new National Planning Policy Framework."

The news is also likely be welcomed by Axminster district and county councillor Ian Hall, who at a town council meeting earlier this week, said the number of houses proposed for Axminster was "not acceptable".

"In my opinion, our lovely town should not have to accept the lion's share of EDDC's numbers due to added strain on our roads, amongst other reason. 

"The safety of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle users is absolutely paramount and sending more traffic along the arterial routes with more pollution around our schools and town centre is not acceptable.

"Like it or not, there is no plan for a relief road – that ship sailed away in 2019 with the Axminster Masterplan – and there seems to be no plan for other necessary infrastructure.

"I want to see planned growth in the local area, but I anticipate it is likely we will have to pause any further development until these major issues have been resolved. 

"We will also need to continue to support our local businesses to ensure we stay a strong and resilient community."

Axminster Town Council's Neighbourhood Plan steering group also objected EDDC's draft Local Plan.

Responding to EDDC's public consultation, the steering group raised concerns over the number of houses proposed for Axminster and the lack of additional infrastructure. 

Its response said: "What we find hard to understand is how EDDC will be serving the needs of Axminster and its surrounding communities by allocating such a disproportionate share of the District's new housing here without any new supporting infrastructure."

In particular, concerns were raised over the scrapping of plans for a north-south relief road ease traffic congestion in Axminster, as well as healthcare and educational facilities that were "already struggling to cope".