NEWTON Abbot has expressed its dismay as Teignbridge District Council doubled down on its plans to redevelop the cattle market. 

While numerous plans for the cattle market have been proposed over the years, the new draft Local Plan, published earlier this month, reaffirmed their intentions. 

Newton Abbot has been a town defined by its market for over 800 years, although it moved to its current location between Asda and the car park on Halcyon Road in 1938.

The Draft Local Plan says: ‘The old Cattle Market area of Newton Abbot is a declining 0.7 ha brownfield site and is now predominantly used for car parking. 

‘The area is historically important but is no longer economically viable and will be redeveloped to be an attractive place and provide homes in the town centre.’

‘Higher density apartments up to four storeys will be encouraged. Consideration should be given to the retention of the Cattle Market building/office and gates/piers as a reference to the historic use.

‘A bus and mobility hub may be located on the western end of the site adjacent to the multistorey car park. A cycle and footway should be created within the east of the site from Halcyon Road to Sherbourne Road.’

A Teignridge District Council spokesperson added: “As the priority in the draft local plan is to build on brownfield sites where possible, the cattle market area, which is predominantly used for car parking, is earmarked for development. Should this happen then the site would cease to be used as a livestock market.’

This is not the first plan for the area. In 2021, Councillors backed the development of a 72 bed hotel and restaurant, which would be leased to Travelodge. Although work was set to begin last year, it is still yet to start. 

Mr Clive Morgan is a partner at Rendells, a firm of Auctioneers, Valuers, Surveyors and Estate Agents. Knowing the market for many years and being a part of a business that coordinates much of the market’s activities, Mr Morgan was dismayed but unsurprised by the plans. 

Mr Morgan said: ‘This is not the first time this has happened. Years ago, the Newton Abbot Auctioneers requested a meeting with the then chair of Teignbridge District Council. 

‘After our persistency, the meeting took place and we explained that the closure of the market had done untold harm. 

‘After he retired, I wrote to the new chairman and received a somewhat vacuous reply. Gone are the days when we had a relationship with councillors who understood what the market meant.’

A Teignbridge Council spokesperson said: ‘Ambitious and forward-looking, the draft plan aims to help generate growth, provide homes and jobs for local people, protect valued environments, create more open spaces, tackle climate change and promote the importance of meeting future energy needs.

‘It also meets current government housing supply requirements for a least the next 15 years while aiming to substantially reduce our carbon footprint by ensuring all developments in the district are net zero by 2028.’