A MAN whose home is close to a controversial soon-to-be-built housing estate has demanded authorities keep a close eye on the developer during construction.

Permission was granted last month for Persimmon Homes South West to build 77 homes on two fields north of Woodland Road.

Chris Baggot of Lower Brook Park in Ivybridge attended last week’s town council meeting on Monday evening to raise the concerns of residents.

Those living in Higher and Lower Brook Park fear the development will exacerbate flooding problems they already experience, living as they do directly below the two steeply sloping fields.

Mr Baggot had two questions, he said: did the town council’s planning committee have any further interest in the scheme, now it had been approved by South Hams Council; and who would police Persimmon during the construction and afterwards, in relation to its flood prevention measures.

Mr Baggot also drew attention to a recent case in Plymstock he said showed developers would take advantage without proper scrutiny.

District councillor for Ivybridge West Mike Saltern said he had been against the development. Now that permission had been granted, policing would be the responsibility of South Hams Council’s planning department while Devon County Council would oversee the drainage side of things.

Fellow ward member Cllr David May also said he had been opposed to the scheme and called it ’ridiculous’. He said South Hams Council’s building control department would be responsible for making sure everything was built as per the approved plans, and the council could now boast enforcement teams that would take action. He said if any problems were experienced by residents, they should call on their district councillors.

County councillor Roger Croad pointed out that bodies like the Environment Agency and Devon Highways that had been consulted on the plans had judged them to be acceptable, but added that building control was now responsible.

Persimmon’s plans had a rough ride through the planning process, facing huge opposition from locals from the outset, and being rejected three times by South Hams Council’s development committee.

Development of the site will continue the pattern of elongation of the town between Dartmoor and the A38, with edges increasingly far from the traditional centre, which is contrary to the wishes of the town council and many locals.