Taylor Wimpey: Housebuilder apologises after flouting operating hours on new estate
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has been issued with a warning after construction workers worked over permitted hours at a development between Marske and Redcar.
Nearby residents complained to Redcar and Cleveland Council after staff contravened the agreed hours of operation put in place as part of previous planning conditions for the Silverdale Gardens extension, off Cat Flatt Lane.
Taylor Wimpey has since been issued with a breach of condition notice after council enforcement officers also observed several infringements with the site continuing to be monitored.
Marske councillor Dr Tristan Learoyd told the Local Democracy Reporting Service how in one example builders worked until at least 8pm, when they were only allowed to operate on site until 6pm.
He claimed this was because they were under instruction to complete a show home that was due to open to the public.
The breach of condition notice was briefly discussed at a meeting of the council’s regulatory committee with development services manager Claire Griffiths stating there had been more than one breach.
Committee chairman, Councillor Stuart Smith said: “It is good to see such action taking place.”
Last year a meeting heard how the local planning authority had hired external consultants to help deal with a backlog of planning enforcement cases due to a senior officer being on long-term sick.
At the time Coun Learoyd, a previous chairman of the council’s planning committee, suggested there were “chronic deficits in this particular department”.
Permanent appointments have since been made, boosting the number of staff available, Mrs Griffiths confirmed.
A spokeswoman for Taylor Wimpey said: “We are working constructively with Redcar and Cleveland Council to address the matter and ensure compliance with the relevant planning conditions, following receipt of a breach of condition notice.
“We take our responsibilities for the development seriously, and we apologise for any disruption caused to local residents.
“We immediately reminded our team and contractors of the permitted working hours and introduced additional on-site measures, including clear signage, to reinforce these requirements and help prevent a recurrence.”
Planning permission was denied in 2023 by the council for the 114 property development after concerns about unsuitable access.
The council later faced criticism after choosing not to defend an appeal by Taylor Wimpey, which was allowed by a Government-appointed planning inspector – meaning the development could go ahead.
The council had received legal advice from a barrister which said the grounds given for refusal, which included that required access to the new estate through the existing Silverdale Gardens development would be detrimental in terms of highway safety, were “indefensible”.
The advice suggested the council had a 95 per cent chance of losing were it to stick to its guns and could face costs of up to half-a-million pounds if the successful party pursued the costs involved.