The Public Inquiry, held in January, was well attended and lasted 2½ days including an evening session. Evidence was given by David Brown (Chairman, HBCPT) and David Pinney (planning consultant) on behalf of the Parish Council, Bill Holman on behalf of Devon CC, Mick Roberts for Torridge DC and Bob Head for Head Projects. The Inspector gave all those who wished to speak an opportunity to state their views and question those giving evidence for the proposed development.

The CPT and indeed the whole community were extremely disappointed with the Secretary of State’s decision to support the Inspector’s recommendation to refuse the application, announced in May 2006.

The main reasons for refusal were that the proposals:

1. would add to an oversupply of housing land;
2. would result in a supply of affordable housing that exceeds the level of identified local need;
3. could not be described as limited or small scale;
4. would conflict with Government objectives in PPG13 [Transport]

and that

1. the site location outside the development boundary of High Bickington is inconsistent with settlement policy and the advice of PPS7 [Sustainable Development in Rural Areas]

Following the announcement of the decision, a meeting of partners considered four options:

1. Requesting a Judicial Review;
2. Submitting a new application within existing policy;
3. Re-submitting the scheme within the emerging Local Development Framework;
4. Abandoning the scheme.

It was agreed that a revised application would be put together within existing policy.

A high level Task Group was formed, to bring together elected members and the Chief Executive officers and other senior officers of Devon CC and Torridge DC, plus the local Member of Parliament (Geoffrey Cox, QC, MP), the former MP, now a Working Peer (Lord Burnett) and David Brown, Chairman of HBCPT. This group has met on three occasions, to coordinate the authorities’ responses.