Lib Dem councillor highlights Linden Homes planning failure

Linden Homes seems to have overlooked its landscaping obligations on the Camomile Lawn development in Totnes. There are a number of omissions on its part and they are as follows;

The first omission of Linden is its failure to construct a new Devon bank to the left of the access road running from the Duke Road junction to Paradise Walk. The bank should consist of an earth mound 800 mm high with turf pegged to the sides and topped with a new hedgerow of mixed planting.

Linden recently made an application for planning permission for further houses on this strip of land but was refused.

The second omission of Linden is its failure to lay a hedge in front of the allotment boarding on the right hand side of the access road into the development and almost opposite Paradise Walk.

Linden is required to lay a double staggered row @300mm centres 450 mm apart in species groups of 3-5 with tree guards the length of the current boarding. This it has failed to do.

The third omission of Linden is its failure to create an accessible public open space on the large plot of land adjacent to Paradise Walk and to the left of the access road. The area should be seeded with low maintenance grass seed and be mowed on a regular basis.

The area is currently difficult to access due to the steepness of the surrounding banks. Easy access points should be created so that it is possible for the area to be enjoyed by the public.

Last week John Birch, Lib Dem District Councillor for Totnes, had a meeting on the site with SHDC planning and enforcement team officers and consideration is being given to ensuring the landscape planning obligations are undertaken by Linden.

John Birch says "I suspected for quite a while that Linden had not carried out its landscaping obligations and upon examining the planning documents relating to the development I was surprised at the extent of this failure. I requested a meeting on site with SHDC officers and it seems that, in my opinion, action is required to ensure that the Camomile development is carried out in accordance with the planning documents and that nothing is overlooked.

Hopefully Linden will complete its obligations and that enforcement will not be necessary."