CONTROVERSY surrounding a development under way in Yate has escalated, after residents and councillors accused developers of breaching planning conditions.


The development, on the former site of Rodford Primary School on Barnwood Road, involves the building of 57 new houses and has sparked outrage amongst residents, who have raised concerns about the impact it would have on wildlife.


Bellway Homes were given approval to build the houses by South Gloucestershire Council in September last year and preparation work started on February 9, with the authorised chain-sawing of trees that formerly had Tree Protection Order (TPO) status on February 9.


Iain Garret, of Harescombe, in Yate, reported an alleged breach of several pre-commencement planning conditions to the council on March 13, after after being informed by a local resident that an excavator had begun works and the tree protection fencing had not been completed.


The issue was logged as a formal investigation and he was told an officer would attend the site with a planning enforcement team leader, a council tree officer, an ecology officer and a development management officer, to meet with Bellway Homes.


Mr Garret claimedsaid: “Several planning conditions relating to tree, landscape and, perhaps most importantly, ecological matters have not been met by Bellway Homes – all of which were required to be discharged prior to commencement of development.


“I’m happy that both myself and a few other local residents have alerted the council to the excavator works, and as a result Bellway can now be in no doubt as to their obligations.”


Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore said: “This makes a complete mockery of everything residents and local councillors have done.”


A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: “Officers visited the site and following the meeting it was agreed that Bellway would provide the council with a detailed timetable of key stages of work over the coming months.”


Sasha O’Neill, group head of marketing at Bellway Homes, said: “We are co-operating fully with the council and have invited them for an on-site meeting which took place last week.


“We can confirm that following this, the council did not issue a notice for breach of planning conditions and are happy for us to proceed.”