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Recession hits Elbow expansion

Developers are seeking to trim back plans to build more town houses at Fritholme Garden Estate, citing economic concerns.The Elbow Beach Hotel and Development Company was given planning permission in 2004 to build more than 60 housing units on land adjacent to the hotel property.Phases one, two and four of construction have already been completed 32 two-bedroom units, five three-bedroom units and a residents’ club with a swimming pool.The development company had approval to build a further 20 housing units on the site as part of phase three.But according to a new planning application submitted in April, the developers are seeking to reduce the number of units to be built in the final phase, to ten.The new application proposes the construction of six two-bedroom town houses and four three-bedroom town houses, along with the demolition of several existing units and a parking garage on land to the East of the hotel’s main driveway.A section of the planning application reads: “The original grant to planning permission in principle was for 62 new dwelling units.“In response to market direction and economic conditions, the unit mix and count has changed over time.”The Development Applications Board initially rejected the Fritholme Estate project because phase one of the plan included the construction of five villas on land zoned as woodland. Concerns were also expressed about the stability of the area after a landslide took the life of Andrea Bacari in January 2003.However independent planning Inspector Brian Field recommended the project go ahead, saying: “The economic efficacy of the scheme would be compromised if the five villas were not built.”Former Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield subsequently approved the plan on appeal.