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We are deeply concerned that on 24 July Plymouth City Councillors are being recommended to approve the development of Wilmot Gardens, Crownhill. The case officer, Mr Macauley Potter, is recommending approval with conditions of five houses on Wilmot Gardens, a 0.3-acre much-loved open space. The 32-page report is here. There are 49 objections.
Local people protest against development on Wilmot Gardens. Photo: Frank Hartkopf
The council’s previous decision to build here was quashed by the High Court in May, following action by local protestors, backed by the Open Spaces Society. This action was in part because the council had not sufficiently considered that this was a valued green space in an area of poor open-space provision.
The council accepts that the proposal is against its own policy (DEV27) ‘as there would be a significant loss to the existing open space’. The policy outlaws the building on open space unless the space is surplus to requirements, or it will be replaced by equivalent or better provision on a suitable location.
The officer acknowledges that this space is not surplus, and that it will not be replaced by equivalent or better space. He states that the green ‘currently serves properties that are not sufficiently served by other spaces of the same nature and function’. Nevertheless, he claims that ‘there are sufficient public benefits or material planning reasons which are afforded significant weight’, and recommends approval.
Says our general secretary Kate Ashbrook: ‘We deplore the council’s proposal blatantly to override its own open-space policy. Wilmot Gardens is much loved by local people. The council seems to think that, because there is no Friends group, and no community notice-board, it does not have value or quality for community involvement. That is plainly bizarre, as local people have shown their love and care for the site, for instance by placing a bench here and their concerted campaign to safeguard the site.
‘We urge Plymouth councillors to reject this monstrous proposal and leave the space for all to enjoy,’ Kate concludes.