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Archived Press Release
Originally created on: Friday 01 April, 2011
press release April 1 2011
Developer fined for breaching planning condition
Belmont Homes has been prosecuted for failing to provide wheelchair-accessible paths to their development at Coastal Place, New Church Road, Hove.
After pleading guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court last week, they were fined £700 with £1,020 costs for breach of a planning condition. The maximum fine for this breach of planning is £1,000 but the magistrates took into account Belmont Homes' early guilty plea and that they intend to carry out the necessary works within a short period of time.
The court heard the developer put in paths made up of sand and gravel making it impossible for residents in wheelchairs to use the garden since they first occupied their flats almost three years ago. The planning permission provided for ‘bonded’ paths that all residents could use.
Belmont Homes of Guildford argued that there were no disabled residents using wheelchairs in their development. In fact there are six wheelchair adapted units incorporated into the new block each occupied by wheelchair users.
Residents at the development have welcomed the prosecution which was brought by Brighton & Hove City Council.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s Head of Planning, Martin Randall said: “This action shows our firm commitment to ensuring that developers adhere to approved planning permissions and the conditions attached to them.
“In this case officers gave Belmont Homes every opportunity to seek alternatives and allowed them the opportunity to submit revised plans for the pathways. Unfortunately despite the best efforts of officers Belmont Homes did not carry out the necessary work and officers had no alternative but to prosecute.”
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