Congleton: New apartment block likely to go ahead on residential street
An application for a block of six apartments in Congleton has been recommended for approval despite objections from scores of local residents.
Bromley Farm Development wants to build the one-bed flats on land off Woolston Avenue.
The application, which was to have been decided by a planning officer under delegated authority, has been 'called-in' by Cllr Rob Moreton (Ind) and will now be considered at next week's meeting of southern planning committee.
Cllr Moreton listed a number of reasons why the application should be refused, including concerns about parking.
"The residents on Woolston Avenue struggle to park now so a potential 10 to 15 cars will make this situation a lot worse, in turn causing arguments with residents," he said in his call-in letter.
"Emergency vehicles have also in the past struggled to get up this road."
The Congleton councillor claimed there would also be overlooking because of the proximity of the proposed building to existing properties and because of the steep incline on the development site.
"The [nearby] houses will have potentially 15 windows looking into both storeys including children's bedroom windows and all of their back gardens, taking away not just a bit but all of their privacy," he said.
The application site comprises a parcel of land sited between numbers 17 and 15 Woolston Avenue.
Initially the proposal was for eight apartments but that since been reduced to six and the height of the proposed development has also been reduced.
Twenty eight objections were sent to the council from residents regarding the initial proposal and 26 people objected to the revised plans.
Among the objections were light and privacy issues, claims the development is too large for the plot, arguments the site should be retained as green space and parking and highway safety issues.
In a report due to go before next week's committee, the council's planning officer says the site is within the settlement boundary for Congleton and the principle of residential development on the site is acceptable.
"The site is sustainably located and is in easy walking distance of Congleton town centre, public transport and services and facilities within the town," states the officer in report.
"The site layout is acceptable and would not harm residential amenity."
The application is due to be considered by the southern planning committee at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10am on Wednesday, November 2.
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