| 'POSTAGE STAMP' PLANNING APPLICATION FOR 95 HOUSES OVERTURNED IN PEASEDOWN ST JOHN - 18th Jan '08 |
 |
|
Controversial
plans to build 95 houses on a tiny site in Peasedown St John have been scuttled
after lengthy negotiations between officers, local residents, the developer and
local councillors Sarah Bevan and Nathan Hartley.
Reasons for the
rejection include lack of noise mitigation for new and existing residents,
faulty design, poor layout and unsatisfactory landscaping and parking
arrangements. The developer's insistence on roof-level accommodation would have
meant constant and obtrusive noise for the new occupants emanating from the
by-pass, a stone's throw away from the proposal site.
Cllr
Bevan said:
"This
will come as a huge relief to the residents living opposite the proposal site in
Wellow Lane. We have been living with the anxiety caused by this scheme for over
a year now - 95 houses squeezed on to this site would have been intolerable,
not least because of the impact on our local primary school, which would have
had to find space for at least 20 more children over a very short space of
time."
Discussions over
the past year repeatedly suggested to the developer, Pegasus Planning Group,
that around 50-70 houses would be much more acceptable to all concerned, but
according to planning documents received yesterday outlining officers' and other
objectors' reasons for refusal, the developer submitted plans for 95 houses and
ignored all advice regarding essential details to make the proposal
acceptable.
Cllr
Hartley said:
"I am
very pleased with this outcome after months of waiting and wondering. We know
that this is not the end of the story regarding this site and its development,
but at least good sense and consideration for residents has prevailed for the
time being."
Pegasus has been
told to redesign the development from top to bottom, according to the letter
sent to the developer received by Cllr Bevan.
|