Developers botch flats plan

From the archive, first published Friday 15th Jun 2007.

A housing development in Chippenham has been built too high and may have to be pulled down.

Linden Homes made a mistake in translating the main architectural drawings for 256 homes in Cocklebury Road and builders constructed a building up to 4ft higher than in the approved specification.

About 50 Monkton Park residents in the neighbourhood, many of them elderly, have written to North Wiltshire District Council to complain.

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Built on the old cattle market site, the development of two-bed apartments and three and four-bed homes, has been the subject of much debate in recent months.

Councillors on the planning committee have battled with the developer to get the height of the buildings reduced to fit in better with the surrounding bungalows.

District councillor Chris Caswill, said: "The developer and the council have known from the start that the height of this development has been the main bone of contention. There are serious questions about the level of competence shown by Linden Homes if they can make such an obvious mistake.

"There is an astonishing amount of anger among residents. I have canvassed every street in the area and people are saying this is absolutely wrong. If the council does not enforce its original decision, its credibility will be questioned."

Toby Ballard, Linden's managing director, admitted the error. "It is true we have made a mistake but the difference is marginal," he said.

"It is very rare for this to happen and it has never happened before. It's not us trying to be clever.

"The houses are ready for people to move into and we don't want to alter the height because we'll have to demolish the buildings, so we have applied for retrospective planning permission and we are confident we will get it."

A district council spokesman said: "Two blocks fronting the development are nearing completion, but have not been built in accordance with the approved plans.

"As well as a number of design changes the height of the buildings has been increased by between 22in and 44in."

The fate of the building was due to be debated by councillors on Wednesday but will now be considered in July.