SOUTH West Devon MP Gary Streeter has blasted the 'fatally flawed' development proposals to build 93 new homes in Modbury.

This week Mr Streeter voiced his opposition against the Palm Cross Green proposals, telling developers Bloor Homes to 'go back to the drawing board'.

The MP has written to the South Hams planning department asking them to reject the application, citing highways objections, over-development and safety issues as his key concerns.

He has also expressed concerns that Modbury Parish Council is not accurately reflecting the widespread concerns of Modbury residents in its support for the development. 

Mr Streeter said: 'Although we need affordable homes for local youngsters, this 93-house development is out of scale with what Modbury needs and far exceeds the original proposal of 50 homes.

'The highways problems seem to be insoluble given the busy and twisting nature of the A379 at Palm Green Cross which make this application fatally flawed.'

He added: 'I suggest Bloor Homes go back to the drawing board and come up with a more modest scheme that better suits the character of this very special town.'

The MP said he has received representations from Modbury residents in recent weeks, many of them concerned about the parish council's apparent support for the scheme.

The application on the South Hams panning website has received a number of objections from residents, all sharing similar complaints to that of the MP.

To try and fight the proposed development residents joined together to form Modbury First. The group, fronted by Martin Ranwell, opposes the development on a number of grounds and say the plans have come from 'commercial greed not community need'.

Mr Ranwell said: 'The housing needs survey currently being undertaken by the district council is likely to show a need for 20-30 affordable homes in Modbury, 'but that shouldn't mean we have to suffer an extra 70 on top'.

'Modbury is a place of great history and it will threaten the character of the town, along with exacerbating traffic and parking issues that are rife already.'

He added: 'We don't need huge four and five bedroom houses, we need small two or three-bedroom starter homes.

'Young people don't have a hope of getting onto the property market at the moment.'

However members of the working and steering group for the Palm Cross Green development dismissed claims that the community has not been consulted.

Nicky Shepley and George Rosevear, members of the working and steering group, said: 'We are somewhat bemused at the impression this development is suddenly attracting among some people in the town.'

Mr Rosevear said since 2006, South Hams Council had issued a housing needs survey, a local development framework and other consultations.

In 2010, a central government inspector held a public enquiry after a challenge by the Modbury First group to the district council's strategy that was adopted by the parish council. The inspector took evidence from Mod-bury First Group, against the development, and the Modbury Society, in favour.

The inspector found the process that led to the selection of the site for development was sound.

Mr Rosevear said: 'During the latter part of 2013, the current developer, Bloor Homes, was selected and they began the process of considering the most suitable development for the site.

'During 2014 the prospective developer held drop-in sessions to gather views from the community of what they hoped for.

'It is clear the process that has led to the current detailed application by Bloor Homes has been a living pro-cess for several years and can hardly be characterised as having been foisted on the community.

'The community has been involved for 12 years.

Mr Rosevear added: 'It should also be noted that within the current detailed application are 27 affordable homes between one and three to four bed houses. The development seeks to cater for the full range of household budgets.'

The proposal, made by Bloor Homes, is for up to 93 houses from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses, a new employment building, new open space, to include a play area, allotments, transport infrastructure and improved pedestrian safety; and green infrastructure and ecological enhancements.

Members of the public have until Friday, March 6 to submit comments on the application to South Hams Council. To view the full application or to submit a comment visit http://www.southhams.gov">www.southhams.gov. uk and type in planning application number 35/0059/15/F or write to South Hams Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE.