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Green space campaign defeats eco homes plan |
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15 Jun 2012, 8:59 PM
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Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud has been forced to scrap plans for a flagship 241 eco-home development – following a campaign from furious locals. The Somerset-based TV presenter’s development firm has said it would ‘halt’ plans for the homes on a green field site in Swindon because of legal problems.
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Allotments at Pickards Field, Swindon
The decision was announced formally on Monday night at a borough council cabinet meeting, after the Western Daily Press revealed the 54-year-old presenter’s ideas to develop the site had run into legal problems and a massive campaign against it by local residents in Gorse Hill.
It has been six years since the council first revealed it wanted to develop the Pickards Field site, an area of undeveloped green space used as a park by locals. Residents insisted the land could not be built on as it was protected by various laws and historic covenants, including one preventing the access being turned into a road. Some 90 per cent of locals opposed the plans.
Yesterday, Mr McCloud's firm, Haboakus, confirmed it had been forced to scrap the development after ‘legal and financial’ problems.
Simon McWhirter, Haboakus project director, said Mr McCloud and his team were ‘disappointed’ they were scrapping the plans.
“There are a number of factors, particularly legal and financial, contributing to this decision – not least that it is unlikely a scheme could be delivered in time to secure the necessary grant funding currently available from the Homes and Communities Agency,” he said.
“We are very disappointed that our proposals won't come to fruition as we still believe they offer major benefits to the community through the provision of very high quality housing, an improved park, and significant job and training opportunities for local people,” he added.
The news has thrilled local campaigners, who say their ‘David and Goliath’ victory has protected the land for future generations.
“It is a real case of the little people against the big guy,” said campaigner Josie Lewis. “This is where deer come and graze in the early hours of the morning. We have allotments there. The whole process has left us livid because the council was not honest or transparent,” she said.
Local councillor Rochelle Russell added: “We are all absolutely delighted. This piece of land may look neglected but it has huge potential.”
“For some residents in this community it has been part of their entire lives,” she added, saying that campaigners would now apply for the land to be recognised as green space to protect it in the future.
Credits:: This is Somerset
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