Plan to demolish garages withdrawn after objections

Plans to demolish 11 garages and build three homes in their place in Ilfracombe have been withdrawn after people objected about losing parking and a place where children play.

Fourteen letters against the North Devon Homes’ application were submitted to North Devon Council, also raising concern over loss of privacy and light to other properties in Queen’s Avenue.

A field behind the garages is currently used as an informal play area in a large residential area and children enjoy the wildlife, they said.

Opponents claim the street is struggling to accommodate current parking needs and the garages are all full. Emergency vehicles have trouble getting down the street and they fear there would be no room for refuse trucks when construction vehicles arrive.

The development previous planning permission, granted in 2016, despite similar objections, has now lapsed. North Devon Homes had submitted an ecological impact appraisal along when it resubmitted its previous planning application to comply with new regulations.

At the time officers recommended the scheme be supported and money the council gets from the agreement used to improve neighbouring play facilities.

North Devon Homes said the play area in the 11 hectares they proposed to develop was now redundant.

They said of the 14 garages on Queen’s Avenue, three were let to North Devon Homes’ tenants, six to other residents on the street and the rest to residents in Ilfracombe.

The proposal was for two three-bed houses and one two-bed house, all three storeys high.

Ilfracombe Town Council supported the development as extra accommodation is needed in the town, but asked that parking and construction worries be addressed by highways officers.

Planning officers said the application had been withdrawn because of concerns over the impact on design, amenity and green infrastructure.