A Cambridge City Council website

Cambridge City Council

Council and democracy

Home > Council and Democracy > Decision details

Decision details

17/2050/FUL - 64 Coleridge Road and Land to the Rear of 62 and 60 Coleridge Road

Decision Maker: Planning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for the erection of 2no. houses to the rear of site. First floor side and rear extension to main house. Conversion of house to 1no. 3-bed and 1no. 1-bed flat.

 

The Planner corrected a typographical error in her report (agenda P108):

0.18 I am satisfied that the revised plans are accurate. The removal of the loft conversion and amendments to make the plans accurate has resulted in a minor increase decrease to scale, bulk and massing of the extensions to the host dwelling.

 

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from a local resident.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          Took issue with the Planner’s view that “on balance” the application was acceptable.

     ii.          The amount of development was unacceptable in the proposed space/area. It was too dense, complex and overdevelopment of the site.

   iii.          Queried if the application met amenity space requirements in the new Local Plan.

   iv.          Expressed concern about:

a.    Access to the site (for people and bin collections). Also the impact of this on amenity space.

b.    Loss of privacy.

c.    A car free development was impractical due to the lack of local public transport.

 

Councillor Herbert (Coleridge Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about the application.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          7 sets of drawings had been received for the site as part of planning applications over 2 years.

     ii.          Councillor Herbert had received 200 emails in response to the 7 sets of drawings. He had expressed concerns about these to the Planning Department.

   iii.          The Council was working to the new Local Plan. The application appeared to have been considered against policies in the previous 2006 Local Plan. Suggested the development did not meet accessibility and amenity space requirements in the new Cambridge Local Plan.

   iv.          The development was not sustainable. By being car free, it also stopped families and disabled people buying properties on the site.

    v.          Families and disabled people would be interested in 3 bedroom properties, but access issues restricted emergency services and potential property owners who needed cars or buggies. There was no sensible way for people to get from their homes to the road (the access route was too small for the number of new/existing properties on-site).

   vi.          The Council supported car free developments. However it was impractical for this application. There was no reliable public transport nearby and property owners in Coleridge needed access to cars.

 vii.          Expressed concern that the application would set a poor precedent for further back garden developments.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (by 7 votes to 0) to reject the officer recommendation to approve the application.

 

Resolved (by 9 votes to 0) to refuse the application contrary to the officer recommendation for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed access to the house to the rear would generate unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance, through activities including movement of bikes and bins, and deliveries, to the future occupiers of the 2 proposed flats and to the neighbouring property at 66 Coleridge Road which would result in a poor level of amenity for the residents of the flats and adjoining property. This would be contrary to policy 52 and 57 of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018.

2.    The proposed flats would introduce additional built form in close proximity to the two roof lights in the neighbouring dwelling, no 62 Coleridge Road, this would result in an unacceptable degree of overshadowing and consequent loss of light to the living room of this dwelling and would unacceptable harm the amenities of this dwelling. As such, the proposal is contrary to policies 53 and 58 of the Cambridge Local Plan (2018).

Report author: Mairead O'Sullivan

Publication date: 29/01/2019

Date of decision: 09/01/2019

Decided at meeting: 09/01/2019 - Planning

Accompanying Documents: