FORTY six homes will be built on the former Kaminski's Garden Centre site in Tavistock following planning approval last week. One of the most important West Devon sites in the newly designated World Heritage Mining Area, the Parkwood Road location houses the town's oldest brass and iron foundry, which will be converted into 13 homes as part of a mixed development by Cavanna Homes. West Devon planners threw out the proposal in August, classing it as 'overdevelopment' because the density of 55 dwellings per hectare was more than the Government recommendation of 30-50 dwellings per hectare on urban sites. The main concern was the four houses on the east end of the site, which members considered would result in an unacceptable degree of overlooking to residents in Parkwood Road. On the revised plans discussed by members of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee last week, the properties in question had been moved back to give a separation of 20 metres between them and Nos 43-49 Parkwood Road. Planning officer Ed Persse said other amendments had been made including obscure glazing first floor bathroom windows and rotating a block of flats to reduce the impact on the foundry building, which had secured listed building consent for conversion. He said the density was slightly higher than the council's planning policy dictated but on brownfield sites it was about making the most efficient use of land and preventing development taking place on greenfield sites. Long-term resident of Parkwood Road Judith Davies said this was an 'overcrowded development' on a heritage site set in a conservation area in an historic town. She said there was no reduction in the number of houses despite the council refusing the last application on these grounds. She also mentioned the lack of a children's play area. Speaking on behalf of Cavanna Homes Ian Pugsley said a lot of time had been spent talking to borough council officers and experts to retain the site's historic features and to provide an 'attractive and viable development'. He said the company could have gone to appeal on the former application but instead it had tried to resolve the issues raised by members. The proposal won unanimous support from the committee.
