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We are delighted that Plymouth City Councillors have rejected the proposed development of Wilmot Gardens, Crownhill, and now calls on the council to register it as a town green.
Local people celebrate on Wilmot Gardens. Photo: Frank Hartkopf
After a long debate at the planning committee meeting on 24 July, members voted by 10 to 2 to reject the application for five houses, primarily on the grounds that it would destroy vital open space, conflicting with council policy.
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 councillors rejected the application this time because it conflicts with the council’s own policy (DEV27). This 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 planning officer acknowledged, and councillors agreed, that this space is not surplus, and that it will not be replaced by equivalent or better space. It would have an adverse effect on the health and well-being of residents, especially children.
Says our general secretary Kate Ashbrook: ‘We are relieved that the council has recognised that its policy is there to protect important open spaces like Wilmot Gardens, and that the land is now saved for the community to enjoy.
‘We urge Plymouth City Council, as landowner, voluntarily to dedicate the space as a town green. This would protect it in perpetuity and give local people rights of recreation here. It would be a fine and publicly-beneficial act, following in the footsteps of other authorities who have done this.’
Says resident Matt Fleming: ‘As residents, we have been campaigning against this proposed development for years and we are delighted that finally this application has been refused by Plymouth City Council’s planning committee. This would have been devastating for our community but now we can continue to enjoy this much-loved, much-used, small patch of green land at the heart of our neighbourhood.
‘We thank all those groups and individuals from the city and beyond who have added strength, energy, and guidance to our campaign, including Save the Trees of Armarda Way (STRAW) and the Open Spaces Society. We couldn’t have done it alone.’