The planning application was considered by the District Plans Committee on 15th January 2009 and was unanimously approved, subject to confirmation of the Section 106 Agreement and submission to the Government Office for the South West as a Major Departure from the Local Development Plan. On 20th February the Secretary of State decided not to intervene in the application and returned it for determination by the Torridge District Council. Their decision was eventually issued on 9th October and the Section 106 Agreement was completed later in the year.

On 30th April, Contracts were exchanged between Devon County Council and the CPT for the freehold transfer of the land required for housing and workspace development, together with 125 year leases on the community woodland, the community hall site, the future health centre and allotments sites and part of the playing field.

On 15th December, Devon County Council’s Cabinet agreed to release up to £850,000 as its infrastructure contribution, in furtherance of a decision of the County Executive taken in November 2007. Conditions imposed at that meeting included submission of a viable Business Plan, adequate legal safeguards to protect the Council’s interests and demonstration that the Council was getting good value for money. The Cabinet was satisfied that all these conditions had been met.