Kingsbridge developer hit with big fines

Council won't tolerate people who disregard planning enforcement notices

Ignoring planning regulations to build homes without protecting trees properly has cost a developer nearly £300,000 in fines and costs.

South Hams Council has welcomed news of the successful prosecution which finished at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday.

Cllr Dan Thomas (Lib Dem, Newton and Yealmpton) said: “We hope this sends a message loud and clear that we will not tolerate anyone who disregards planning enforcement notices and that we will take action.”

The council action against Blakesley Estates (Kingsbridge) Ltd - now known as Garden Mill Ltd - and its director John Freeland began in 2021 when they continued building at Locks Hill, Kingsbridge without complying with planning permission conditions.

Following several court hearings and unsuccessful applications by Mr Freeland and his company, both pleaded guilty to breaching a temporary stop notice and an enforcement notice issued by the council.

Garden Mill has been ordered to pay a £100,000 fine and £40,000 costs to the council while Mr Freeland must pay £76,000 in fines and £80,000 in costs.

Cllr Thomas, the council’s executive member for planning, said he is pleased the company and its director have been brought to justice.  

He continued: “We tried to work with them, but they refused to comply. The local community has quite rightly been up in arms about what has happened at the site. We have listened to them and relentlessly taken this through the courts over the past few years.”

Blakesley Estates bought the land with planning permission for 32 new homes, with a condition that no work would take place until a scheme was in place to protect trees and limit the impact development would have on a neighbouring Grade-II listed building.

The council says despite this, work started without adequate tree protection, so the developer was told to stop. When that was ignored, more damage resulted. 

Work finally stopped, leaving the land with a number of houses partially built and the remaining land an unfinished building site.

Blakesley Estates' appeal to the planning inspectorate to restart the work was dismissed. Earlier this year, an inspector concluded that the developer had not complied with a planning condition and that planning permission had expired.

The council pursued the company and its director through the courts and has now won its case.

Cllr Thomas went on: “This issue has gone on for years and we have worked tirelessly to bring it to a conclusion.

“We are facing a housing crisis, and we are really keen for this eyesore to be fixed. We want the local community in Kingsbridge to get the housing development they deserve which respects the local area.”