Charity housing expansion plan annoys neighbour

A couple are objecting to a plan to expand a charity housing scheme in Tavistock on privacy, parking and traffic congestion grounds.

Tony and Cathy Duke, who live high above the Maynard Ford Almshouses on Ford Street, are alarmed at a plan to build a second row of eight almshouses in the grounds of the existing terrace.

Tony says the project is too big for the plot and will intrude on their own privacy, security and views. His other objections include inadequate parking for the additional residents and the need for the partial closure of Ford Street for up to 12 months to allow for the building works.

The new terrace, four on the upper level and four on the lower one, would be built behind and parallel to the existing historic homes and be accessed from Ford Street.

Planning permission is being sought by Ford Street and Maynard Almshouse Charity from West Devon Borough Council to build the new flats (application 1524/26/FUL) and totally refurbish the existing almshouses, 12 one-bedroom flats offered for rent to local people aged 60 plus.

The idea is to build the new homes, rehouse the current residents in them and then renovate the old homes to address problems of damp and mould before offering them to new residents.

Tony and Cathy are warning of months of traffic ‘gridlock’ because the building work 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.

He said: “Although we fully recognise the the important role of almshouses pay in supporting older residents, we ourselves are in our eighties and our objection is not to the principle of almshouse accommodation, but to the specific design harms caused by this proposal. Age or vulnerability cannot be used to justify avoidable impacts on my amenity, privacy structural safety or highway operation.”

He says the 40-metre row of new houses would abut his retaining wall and be three metres above his front garden with large heat-pump air ducts on the roof, creating an ‘industrial’ roofline blocking the couple’s far-reaching view over Dartmoor. Tony is also worried his boundary wall would be weakened by new building works.

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

“The trustees see this challenge as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to future-proof the site by securing the asset’s financial security and at the same time, to transform the quality of accommodation that it provides.

“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.”