Town councillors object to charity housing expansion plan

Town councillors have registered their objections to a plan to expand a charity housing scheme in Tavistock on the grounds of privacy, parking and traffic congestion.

Planning permission is being sought by the Ford Street and Maynard Almshouse Charity from West Devon Borough Council to build new flats and totally refurbish the existing Grade II-listed almshouses, for renting to local people aged 60 plus.

The idea is to build the eight new homes in the garden of the existing almshouses on Ford Street, rehouse the current residents in them and then renovate the existing almshouses, addressing their damp and mould, before offering them to new residents.

Tavistock Town Council, being consulted on the plan, is echoing some nearby residents’ views that the new-build work will lead to months of traffic congestion.

It will require a three-way traffic light control system to guide traffic round a temporary bridge to take construction material from Ford Street and over the roofs of the existing homes to the site, behind the current almshouses.

Previous roadworks in the area has led to gridlock on Plymouth and Callington Roads.

The site is also relatively small, leading to fears the new almshouses will overshadow, overlook and reduce the open space round the existing almshouses and also affect other neighbours.

The town council’s management and licensing committee has lodged five formal objections: the reduction of on-street parking, the impact on traffic congestion (consequences for town centre businesses and services), the loss of amenity space for existing almshouses, the impact on privacy of other neighbours and the harm to the setting of a listed building.

The committee has however, formally supported the linked listed building consent application from the charity, for internal and external alterations to the existing almshouses associated with their planned refurbishment and retrofit. This support is subject to no ‘severe impact’ on traffic during construction works.

Tony Duke, who overlooks the almshouses from the back, has registered his objections to the plans, which have been reflected in the town council’s response.

He said: “I'm honestly delighted. Tavistock Town Council reached the right conclusion, and I've been really impressed by how they listened to local concerns and made such a strong recommendation to the planning authority.”

He emphasised his objection was not to the principle of almshouse accommodation, but to the impact of this proposal.

He says the 40-metre two-storey flats would rise to three metres above his front garden with large heat-pump air ducts on the roof, blocking his Dartmoor view.

The Maynard charity has said: “Tavistock’s 700-year proud history of almshouses, providing homes for life to the elderly and those in need, is threatened.

“Refurbishment of existing properties and the building of new flats are needed to secure and support increasing demand. Our aim is to continue providing independence and the feeling of safety that goes with having your own front door. The design meets all planning and heritage requirements, reducing disruption to residents, neighbours and Tavistock during the build and refurbishment.”