Residents in Stoke have welcomed a decision by planners to turn down a second attempt by a developer to build a block of apartments in a city conservation area.
The development on land in Fitzroy Road in Stoke prompted dozens of objections from local residents and local councillors. Council planners cited loss of trees, loss of ecological diversity and impact on the Stoke Conservation Area among the reasons for refusal of the planning application from developer Jim Woodley.
He was seeking permission, for a second time, to construct a building containing apartments on the land which he purchased in 2016. He has already built three houses on part of the plot. Councillor Jemima Laing , who objected to the scheme, said she was ‘very pleased’ that the application had been refused while local resident Catherine Buckland said she was ‘overjoyed.’
Residents’ ‘numerous well-founded and serious concerns’ had been heard, according to Ms Buckland.
“In our current climate and biodiversity crisis any loss of woodland and urban green space should be strongly resisted,” she added.
Her comments were echoed by fellow resident Tim Cresswell who lives close to the site. He said he was ‘thrilled’ that the planning team had done what he called the ‘right thing’ rejecting the application.
“The Stoke Conservation Area is a unique inner city neighbourhood that serves thousands of people,” he said.
”Retaining the integrity of the amenity space and ecosystems that support important wildlife is essential for the future wellbeing of the city both physically and mentally.
“We’re very lucky in Stoke to have councillors who represent our real concerns and ensure that the area is fit for future generations and it is great to see the council is backing up intention with action in making Plymouth the city in the UK with the greenest credentials.”
Cllr Laing said she had been contacted by dozens of residents.
“They were objecting on a whole range of grounds,” she said. “I objected to the first application and I appeared before the Planning Committee last year to secure a tree preservation order on the site.
“This is an important green space in our city and I’m very pleased that residents have, again, achieved the result they wanted.”
Cllr Laing worked closely with Plymouth Labour’s Stoke ward candidate Tom Briars-Delve to make sure residents’ views on the application were heard.
“Many of them got in touch with us to express their understandable concerns, ranging from the mature trees and wildlife habitat to traffic congestion and water drainage,” said Mr Briars-Delve, who lives in Stoke with his wife and baby daughter not far from the Fitzroy site.
“Jemima and I wanted to help the community have their say so I delivered a letter to 100 nearby houses which explained how to officially comment on the application. The comments submitted by residents were unanimously against the scheme so I’m delighted that the council has listened.
“However, we have been here before with a similar application rejected on this site not long ago. I hope the developer now understands that this is a treasured part of the Stoke Conservation Area. We will continue to support the community in seeking to protect this green space.”
