Plans for a large and controversial three-bedroom home known as 'Galleon's Reach', overlooking the Kingsbridge estuary, have been rejected by South Hams Council.

The proposal, submitted by Mrs. J Murray of Kingsbridge, aimed to demolish an existing bungalow on Embankment Road and build a two-storey house in the New England architectural style. The design included timber cladding, pebbledash walls, full-length glazing, a timber-columned porch at the front, a covered rear veranda, and a pitched-roof garage extension.

The New England style, inspired by homes in the northeastern United States, typically features symmetrical facades, rectangular forms, and sloped roofs.

Council officers raised several concerns about the proposed home, including its large scale, carbon footprint, and potential for light pollution. They also emphasized that the area currently requires smaller, more sustainable homes rather than larger, energy-intensive developments.

The council requires all new developments to offset their carbon output within 25 years. However, the Galleon’s Reach plan projected a carbon offset period of over 87 years.

Cllr Simon Rake (Lib Dem, Blackawton and Stoke Fleming) stated: 'We have carbon policies to change behaviour, and that’s what we should seek to do.'

Cllr Jacqi Hodgson (Green, Dartington and Staverton) added: 'This is so far wide of the mark we are aiming for. It doesn’t have enough merits to allow it to slip through.'

Design concerns were also highlighted. Cllr Chris Oram (Lib Dem, Bickleigh and Cornwood) commented: 'I’m all for a property having its own distinct mark on a particular area, but this seems to sit entirely on its own without paying due homage to the community around it.'

Following the discussion, the development management committee voted unanimously to reject the application for Galleon’s Reach.