Housing plan rejected for 'village green'

RESIDENTS DELIGHTED THAT PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

FAMILIES living in a Plymouth “village” are overjoyed after plans to build houses on a patch of grassland look set to be thrown out for being too dangerous.

Residents in Tamerton Foliot were upset at a proposal to stick six houses on green space which has been used by families for decades at Mary Dean Avenue. A total of 132 letters of objection were sent to Plymouth City Council and residents staged a protest meeting.

Manchester-based property company Maltford Ltd had asked for in-principle planning permission to build on the privately-owned 0.22-hectare site. But, in a delegated decision, a council case officer this week recommended that the application be refused.

The officer’s report said building houses on the grassland would result in a “permanent and adverse impact on the visual and spatial character of the greenspace as a focal point for the surrounding estate.” It said building on the patch was likely to mean “safe and suitable access” may not be achievable due to the site's geometry, topography, surrounding road layout, and proximity to a school.