Blakesley Estates Kingsbridge pleads guilty at court over Lock's Hill development

Blakesley Estates Kingsbridge has pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court following legal challenge from South Hams District Council. 

Blakesley Estates (Kingsbridge) Ltd has yesterday, 13 September, pleaded guilty to two counts of not complying with a Stop Notice, and three counts of breaching an Enforcement Notice.

The case against the company has been adjourned until 2 November, 2023. 

John Freeland, Blakesley Estates, has pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has been set for August 19 2024 for five days.

The Lock's Hill development on Derby Road, Kingsbridge, has been hit with setback after setback after the site was sold to developer Blakesley Estates in the summer of 2021.

Over the last two years, local residents attempted to prevent the development starting, SHDC issued stop notices to the work after concerns over planning conditions, the steep site has been blighted with landslides, dust complaints and a wall collapse. 

Mr Freeland said: "This [guilty plea] is in line with our previous plea position in this long-running court case. 

"The case has been brought by SHDC at significant cost to local Kingsbridge council taxpayers with very little benefit, except to delay works on site 

"These works on site have been scaled back whilst we wait for the planning appeal, which is now imminent and has been validated by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)

"Since we acquired the site in 2021, all planning applications made to SHDC to date by Blakesley Estates, have been refused. This action has again significantly delayed works on site and its ultimate completion." 

We are expecting a press release from South Hams District Council soon, and we will update this story as soon as we can. 

Main image courtesy of Paul Beech