Decision to build on children’s play space in Plymouth put on hold

More investigations are called for to assess impact

Campaigners have welcomed a decision to defer plans to build homes on a children’s play area in a densely populated area of Plymouth.

They say the land at Wilmot Gardens is one of a very few green spaces left in the Manadon, Crownhill and Honicknowle area of the city and is cherished by young and old.

But the 1,347 sq m site has been earmarked for development since 2019 and forms part of the city council’s plan for 5,000 new homes over the next five years.

The application for five affordable homes by Classic Builders controversially involves cutting down five mature oak and ash trees and has been supported by the council’s planning officers.

After a long debate, the planning committee has agreed to delay making a decision until they had a detailed tree study, investigated disabled parking provision and assessed the community’s use of the site.

Chairman of the Crownhill Local Area Residents Association (CLARA) Matt Fleming is pleased councillors are investigating the plan, which has received 45 objections from the public.

He said he understood they are stuck between “a rock and a hard place,” weighing up the need for homes against green space for the community.

“We know Plymouth needs homes, but there are other sites, both brownfield and greenfield, that can be built on.

“We really hope that there will be an outcome now which thinks of community as much as homes.

“In the whole of Honicknowle, Manadon and Crownhill there are only a few bits of green in a huge built up area. We really cherish this. It is the green lung of our area.

“It is really well used by children. If you go after school hours, you will see all the kids playing football and it’s used over the weekend by dog walkers and people with disabilities.”

Councillors were told that the site is not a designated open space but planning policy says such land should not be built on unless it is demonstrated they are surplus to requirements.

Planning committee members heard that children would have to walk nearly half a mile to the nearest play area.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Chris Penberthy (Lab, St Peter and the Waterfront) said the council had worked with the applicant to reduce the number of homes from seven to five because of local concerns.

The new layout was an improvement and allowed for a community garden as well as improved green space in one part which somewhat mitigates the loss of greenry elsewhere.

He said more than 7,000 households are waiting for homes in Plymouth and 600 are in some form of temporary accommodation.

“The city is facing an unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis which the area has not seen for many decades and perhaps not since world war two,” he said.

The council’s natural infrastructure officers opposed plans to fell five trees, but planning officers said it was unavoidable and proposed a replanting scheme, with 17 trees on site and 12 elsewhere at approved locations.

None of the existing trees are protected, but an application for a tree preservation order (TPO) was made in April and is currently being considered by the council’s street services department.

Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Ind, Plympton St Mary) said he did not like the loss of green space, but if development was supported it needed to be the best it could be.

He said he wished to know more about the root system of the trees and how much they would impact the new dwellings and whether any trees could be retained.

“This is a public development funded by the taxpayer and needs to be morally on the right side of the compass. If you pick the wrong judgement it could have devastating and long lasting consequences for the community.”

Cllr Dylan Tippetts (Lab, Compton) said the disabled parking bay was too far away from an accessible home in the development and providing a drop-off bay outside was inadequate and did not meet regulations.

Cllr Carol Ney (Lab, Southway) was concerned that losing the green space would impact on people’s mental health, and with 45 objections it was hard to justify that it was surplus to requirements.

Councillors said that by the next meeting they hoped to know the outcome of the application for a tree preservation order.