Children on a Plymouth estate will lose an area they play on when new houses are built.

A controversial plan for five affordable homes at Wilmot Gardens in the Manadon part of the city has been recommended for approval by council officers.

It forms a small part of the city’s ambition for 5,000 new homes over the next five years, and will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s planning committee next Thursday (29 August).

Some 44 letters of objection have been received from residents concerned about the loss of the green space known as Wilmot Gardens Green ,which many claim is the only place in the area where children can play.

They also oppose the felling of five trees and say the green oasis in the built up area is extensively used by the community.

Concerns have also been raised that the new homes, a mix of one-bed flats and two-bed houses, will result in a loss of privacy and light and cause overlooking to neighbours.

The plan was submitted by Darren Wills of Classic Builders (SW) Ltd in April and is the second time planning consent has been sought for the land. In 2021 a scheme was proposed for seven homes, but was withdrawn after protests.

A report for the planning committee officers said the site is not a designated open space, but it was still relevant under planning policy.

Although they admitted the scope for keeping it as open space was “highly constrained”, the revised layout from the original scheme was an improvement, allowing for more open green space as well as a ‘community garden’.

The council’s natural infrastructure officers opposed plans to fell five oak and ash trees, but planning officers said it was unavoidable and proposed a replanting scheme, with 17 trees on site and 12 elsewhere at approved locations.

None of the existing trees are protected, but an application for a tree preservation order was made in April and is currently being considered by the council’s street services department.

Bat boxes are proposed for adjacent trees and new dwellings to compensate for the loss of roosting and foraging habitats. Wildflowers will be planted in a traditional orchard.

The plan was strongly supported by the council’s housing development team which said it should make an important contribution to the city’s urgent need for affordable housing.

It has been recommended for approval by planning officers with a number of conditions.

Opponents say if the proposal goes ahead children would be forced to cross busy roads and walk far away to play and it would impact older residents too.

Lois Lloyd from the Crownhill Local Residents Association (CLARA) which is campaigning against the proposal said  “We are concerned that taking [the green space] away will have negative consequences including social exclusion particularly for elderly residents with mobility issues,” she said.

CLARA plans a placard-making event at Wilmot Gardens Green next Wednesday for a family-friendly demonstration to save its green space.