Agenda item

In respect of application numbered S/18/1429/RM (Erection of 23no. residential units and associated works, Land Off Morse Street, Swindon, Wiltshire) the Committee considered: -

          Name                                 Address/Organisation

          Harry Barclay                     Applicant

          Patrick Herring                   Parish Council

Councillors Paul Dixon, Nick Martin, Stan Pajak, Jim Robbins, Vera Tomlinson and Peter Watts spoke in respect of this application.

Submissions in support of the application can be broadly summarised as:

·       The site is a brownfield site that would provide 23 additional residential units within the urban area which the National Planning Policy Framework gave weight to developing and provided much needed housing within the Borough.

·       The application includes 12 parking spaces and cycle storage external space and landscaping and the highways team had no objection to the number of proposed parking spaces as no parking was required for the site due to its location.

·       The proposed development was in a sustainable location in a residential location and close to public transport links and local facilities.

·       The three residential blocks followed the lines of adjacent streets and housing and relate well to adjacent dwellings.

·       There was likely to be a reduction in trips to the site when developed as it was currently used for vehicle repairs.

·       The development complied with national and local planning policies.

·       The owner was an experienced developer in local urban areas and worked with the Council to develop a scheme suitable for the site.

·       The scheme was of high quality with disabled access to most of the proposed units and parking on-site in excess of that required for the area and with secure bicycle storage.

·       There would also be one multi-car charging unit for electric vehicles.

·       All units met the design space standards and landscaping had been agreed with officers.

·       The applicant had indicated his willingness to improve the alleyway to an adoptable standard and to look at measures to prevent fly-tipping in the alley.

·       Boreholes had been dug at the site and land investigations undertaken by the applicant and passed to the local company who would be undertaking the ground works and where experienced in working in Swindon.

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Submissions opposing the application can be broadly summarised as:

·       That the proposed development would change the area was controversial amongst local residents with a dramatic change from the traditional local terraced housing on four sides and especially altering the skyline for residents of Dixon Street.

·       The development was three large blocks of flats with imposing frontages and was not appropriate for the site dominating the local street scene.

·       There was only 12 propose parking spaces for 23 residential units which would add further pressure to local parking issues and the residents moving into the development would not qualify for residents parking permits.

·       There were no affordable homes identified as part of the development due to viability issues.

·       There were underground springs on the site and this would cause issues when building the development with potential for land movement.

·       The pathway behind the site was not adopted and not suitable for access and, should planning permission be granted, this should include conditions to bring it up to an adoptable standard.

·       A construction management programme would be submitted to the Council prior to development work.

·       Disruption to local residents would be minimised by using a timber frame construction which would be constructed off-site by reducing vehicle trips to the site and reducing construction time on-site.

·       Works had been fully costed and funded and the units would be going into the Help to Buy Scheme to assist people to get onto the property ladder.

·       There would be an unacceptable loss of amenity to local properties, especially from the construction of block one overviewing and shadowing nearby properties.

·       The land was well known for having for having drainage issues and for having a spring and sub-terrain drainage.

·       Many local home were built without traditional foundations and it was feared construction could lead to damage to these properties, and if granted, strict conditions would be required to avoid this.

·       The retaining wall on the back alleyway would require work prior to construction to make it safe.

·       The nature of the ground might require piling which could damage nearby buildings as shown by the Regent Circus development and should be investigated prior to construction works.

Resolved – Resolved – That planning permission be granted in respect of application numbered S/18/1429 subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage.

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