A housing developer building a new housing estate in Peasedown St John is being investigated for a possible breach of their planning conditions.
David Wilson Homes, who were granted planning permission to build 95 homes on the southern part of the village, have been the daily subject of complaints from residents for almost a year.
Over the last 8 weeks a huge increase in complaints have been received by local councillors and B&NES Council’s Planning Enforcement Team, concerning debris and mud on the public highway.
Wellow Lane resident Adelle Wynn, who lives opposite the development, said; “David Wilson Homes are no stranger to planning regulations. So what they chose ‘not to do’ is out of sheer disrespect for us residents.”
“They treat and use Wellow Lane as part of the building site and not a residential road, which is why the local people are getting increasingly frustrated with them.
“Some days getting down the road is proving to be hazardous with so many vehicles parked alongside it, big diggers and trucks coming in and out of the site entrances, and not to mention the outrageous amounts of mud and rocks left on the road for days on end!“
Adelle was one of a number of residents who contacted their local B&NES Councillor, Nathan Hartley (Lib Dem, Peasedown St John) for help and support. In response, he has arranged for B&NES Council’s Planning Enforcement Team to investigate the housing developer for being in breach of their planning conditions for failing to clean up after themselves. He said; “When planning permission is granted to build houses, under the Discharge of Condition application it requires in the Construction Management Plan that the road is cleaned and maintained in a good condition going forward. If they breach this condition a Breach of Condition Notice could be issued against David Wilson Homes.”
There is no right of appeal against the Notice and if the breach of condition continued it could ultimately result in the Magistrates Court issuing a penalty of £1,000 for a first offence and then for any subsequent offence also.
Nathan added; “I receive complaints about this housing developer on almost a daily basis. It’s not fair on the residents to have to put up with this, which is why I have asked for the investigation to be carried out.”
After visiting the site, Planning Enforcement officers will decide on whether a Breach of Condition Notice is issued.
