34 Mill Road application approved

The PC had objected to a planning application which involved 'backfilling' at 34 Mill Road. Unfortunately its objections have been overruled. The reasons why CBC has passed this application are stated below.

Planning Application CB/12/04398/FULL, for the erection of two three bedroom dwellings with associated garages at the back of 34 Mill Road, has been granted by Central Beds. with the following conditions:

1)      The work shall commence within three years of the date of the permission;

2)       A  scheme shall be submitted for written approval by Central Beds. setting out the details of the materials to be used for the external walls and roof to protect the visual amenities of the building and of the area generally;

3)     The garage accommodation on the site for Plot 1 shall not be used for any purpose other than as garage accommodation unless Central Beds. agrees in order to retain off-street parking provision and thereby minimise the potential  for on-street parking which could adversely affect the convenience of road users;

4)     Prior to the occupation of the flats (N.B. in the design statement it refers to the two dwellings as family homes) the approved car parking, landscaping scheme, the wall  on the northern boundary and other boundary treatment shall be completed to protect the amenities of the adjacent properties;

5)     Before the premises are occupied the proposed development shall be carried out and completed in all respects in accordance with the access siting and layout, surfacing of the vehicular areas, parking provision and turning area as illustrated in the approved drawings to ensure that the development of the site is completed insofar as its various parts are interrelated and dependent one upon another and to provide adequate and appropriate access arrangements at all times;

6)     Details of a refuse collection point located outside of the public highway shall be submitted  to and approved by Central Beds. prior to the occupation of any dwelling. The scheme shall be fully implemented prior to occupation of any dwelling and shall be retained thereafter in the interest of amenity and in order to minimise danger, obstruction and inconvenience to users of the highway and the premises;

7)     Development shall not commence until a scheme detailing provision for on site parking for construction workers and deliveries for the duration of the construction period has been submitted to and approved in writing by Centra l  Beds., and the scheme shall be implemented throughout the construction period, to ensure adequate off street parking during construction in the interests of road safety.

Cranfield Parish Council objected to this application for the following reasons (these are given with the responses of Central  Beds.):

1)     Overbearing to neighbouring properties, and properties in Lordsmead (An overbearing impact would be considered development that would dominate the adjacent properties; it is considered that with the spacing between these properties – the closest  relationship being some 13 metres- would not be considered dominating or overbearing);

2)     Access- the development site is opposite to the junction of Longbornes, the visibility along Mill Road is poor ( It has been advised that there are suitable relationships with this junction and adjacent roads, the access is already constructed, as it services the existing flats. It is considered that the movements for two additional dwellings would not cause such an intensification that it would  become unsuitable );

3)     Insufficient parking causing cars to be parked on Mill Road which is already congested, causing traffic to weave (Plot 1 has parking in accordance with the Central Beds. parking strategy; Plot 2 has an extra parking space in accordance with the Central Beds. parking strategy. It is considered  that the additional space is reasonable; the garages accord with the size standard prescribed);

4)     Overdevelopment of the site (the site is 800 sq, m. , the site would approximately equate to 25 dwellings per hectare, which is considered a reasonable density for a village setting . In addition to this the garden space equates to the standards (approximately 100sqm) for family sized dwellings are met, and the parking standards are also met. It is not considered that this overdevelopment).