Woodbury looks set to get more houses after planners approved two schemes for up to a total of 63 homes.

The developments, both off Globe Hill in the town, are of up to 28 and 35 properties respectively, and while there were some objections, both schemes have the support of Woodbury Parish Council and its district councillors.

The exact number of homes is not yet confirmed, because both are outline planning applications. More detailed plans will now need to be submitted.

Both sites would have affordable homes, but in an increasing trend, both developers offered 35 per cent of the houses on each development as affordable, and pledged to pay for the equivalent of 15 per cent of their quota elsewhere in the district.

The larger development will include a parish council building and community parking area, something welcomed by supporters.

READ MORE: Developer eyes two-hectare site in Woodbury for 28 houses

The smaller site also offered a new parish office, public square and disabled toilet, but had more objections from neighbours, partly because it is in a conservation area.

Resident Roger Stokes said his property would be “one of the most affected”, claiming none of the 20 residents who lived on the perimeter of a field that would be partially built on supported the scheme.

“This site should not have been included in the call for sites due to its existing planning status, as it is the last remaining green space in the village centre and is a wildlife corridor,” he said.

“The existing rules don’t allow building here and previous attempts to build here have always been refused.”

Resident Richard Bagwell also opposes the scheme, suggesting that if the application was rejected, any appeal by the developer would be refused for being “unsustainable” because of the location.

“Residents rightly expect you to apply your own policies, but this is not only a departure, but an aberration,” he said.

However, Richard Ball, a member of Woodbury Parish Council, said the developer had been “collaborative to achieve the best fit for the needs of the area.

“The site has majority support from residents according to a consultation carried out by the parish,” he said.

“There is a need for more affordable housing, and this would secure improvements for the village centre, including improved public access to an open space that is presently unavailable, as well as better parking.”

The scheme’s developers said they would provide off-street parking for the homes, so residents would not need to park on Globe Hill.

There was some concern about the impact on nearby listed buildings, including at Oakhayes, but this was not seen as significant enough to halt the scheme.

The larger site had greater support, with the parish council and district members in favour.

The location has been identified in East Devon District Council’s strategic planning meetings as suitable for development, and key to the district meeting its housing land supply targets.

John Pyne, another Woodbury parish councillor, supported the scheme, acknowledging that more development would be needed in the village.

“The impact of new housing for exiting residents of the village cannot be overestimated, but it does provide a chance of benefit,” he said.

But Tony Bennett, chair of Wild Woodbury, highlighted shortcomings. “The developer claims to have worked with the parish and community but Wild Woodbury, with 1,000-plus members was not consulted,” he said.

“Woodbury Wide Awake, which surveys and documents wild flowers and trees, was also not consulted and the parish council’s own conservation group were not consulted.

“The main causes of biodiversity loss are fragmentation and habitat loss, and this site is halfway between Woodbury Common and Exton, an absolutely key point on a wildlife corridor from Woodbury Castle down to estuary at Exton.”

Both schemes were approved with conditions, with the larger site also requiring the backing of Natural England.

Before any properties are occupied both developers must confirm that South West Water believes the local sewage system can cope, and that nearby water mains network reinforcements have been completed.