Housing approved for pub car park amid objections

Plymouth City Council's planning committee has approved an application to build seven social properties at the Windmill

A council has approved plans to replace a third of a pub car park into housing despite more than 100 letters of objection.

Plymouth City Council's planning committee has given Plymouth Community Homes permission to build seven new social properties at the Windmill pub, on council-owned land.

The committee said the "urgent need for homes" outweighed the loss of parking.

The committee was told about 7,000 people were on Plymouth's housing waiting list, including 400 living in temporary accommodation.

'Gone forever'

Councillor Maddi Bridgeman said the car park, to the west of Bampton Road, was the "wrong site" as it was in the heart of the community.

"To lose over a third of the parking is a travesty," she said.

“I appreciate that there is an unprecedented housing crisis in the city, but we have block of empty student accommodation and unfinished developments all around the city too and many redundant sites.

“This should not go ahead - once this space is gone, it’s gone forever.”

Ms Bridgeman said the car park was used to access a community hall, a range of shops, a takeaway and a pub, adding it served as a "park and stride" location for a local school and Derriford Hospital staff.

'Housing crisis'

Councillor Kevin Sproston said building the two bungalows and five terraced houses could lead to complaints from residents about "noise and potential anti-social behaviour" and an increase pressure on businesses.

Chair of the planning committee Bill Stevens said people did live near pubs and the "world did not come to an end”.

Stevens added there is "no perfect planning application".

He said: “I would be worried if every time we see something that is not to our individual liking it was going to put our plan for homes at risk.

“The housing crisis is real, it is happening now, and although there are going to be negative aspects, the mitigation and assurances we have been given satisfy me in planning terms.”

The application was approved by eight votes to two.