Torquay 'Victorian garden' development can go ahead

A developer with plans for a new cottage in a historic walled garden in Torquay has been given the green light to go ahead.
OJ Developments had been told to stop work on the site at Singleton Gardens earlier this year after it went beyond the consent it had been given by demolishing almost an entire building.
There were angry protests from local conservation campaigners and accusations of assault. Tempers boiled over to the extent that police had to be called.
The campaigners say Singleton Gardens is part of Torquay’s Victorian heritage and should be saved, but now Torbay Council’s planning committee has finally approved the plans for the partial demolition of the existing house, demolition of a greenhouse and outbuilding and the construction of a replacement dwelling.
The committee heard that demolition work had taken place over the Easter bank holiday weekend after the developer claimed the structure was in an unsafe condition and had to come down.
OJ Developments has appealed against the council enforcement action that followed, with a judgement still pending. For that reason objectors called for the council to put off making a decision on the company’s re-submitted plans.
Mike Cowdery, of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum, said the unauthorised demolition had been a breach of the law and had been met with ‘shock and outrage’. And, he added: “This application does nothing but sow further confusion on an already-muddled process of applications and appeals.”
Cllr Hazel Foster (Con, Wellswood) said the application should be refused or at least delayed until the appeal outcome was published, but developers’ spokesperson Ann Hodson said an ‘unforeseen structural issue’ over the bank holiday weekend meant the building had to come down for safety’s sake.
“The cottage will be restored safely and sympathetically,” she said. “Preventing the applicant from rebuilding the property is in nobody’s interest.”
Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) told the meeting: “We need to get this site back to a position where there is a dwelling on it to house a local family.”
And Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) said deferring a decision would just ‘kick the can down the road’.
Planning officers said the proposed scheme could enhance the area and would retain the character and quality of the garden.
Six members of the committee voted in favour of the plans, with none against. Two members of the committee abstained.