A COMPANY which built £250,000 detached homes at Langstone Manor, Newport, was yesterday fined £500 for breaking Planning regulations.

David McLean Homes did not appear at yesterday's hearing at Newport magistrates' court, but pleaded guilty by post and asked to be judged in their absence.

Planning permission was originally granted in 1998 for the development of 57 three, four, and five-bedroomed detached houses, and work on the site began in 2000.

But when the site was inspected by planning officer Shirley Hockaday in July 2001, it became apparent that construction work was being carried out without permission. The following violations were listed in the court:

* no approval for a landscaping plan, including the planting of trees and shrubs around the new development, was granted before work commenced.

* existing trees and shrubs on the property were not fenced off full details of the water drainage system were not approved full details of the access roads to the development were not approved.

A breach of condition notice was served on July 18 last year, asking work on the site to stop until the violations were dealt with, but when planning officers visited in August work was continuing.

McLean Homes pleaded guilty by post and in a later statement to the Argus said they accepted the consequential liabilities of their court date.

In their letter to the court, McLean Homes' solicitor argued in mitigation that landscaping on site was done on a plot-by-plot basis, and that though some temporary drainage solutions were used, new properties were left empty until a solution was agreed.

They also argued that the issue of access was confused by a dispute with a third party who has allegedly built an unauthorised crossing on the site.

The letter said: "McLean Homes were fully aware of the requirements and did their utmost to meet them."

David McLean Homes were fined £500 for failing to comply with a breach of condition notice and ordered to pay Newport county borough council's £350 costs.