In other anti-HS2 news, the planning inspectorate has rejected a developer’s appeal to demolish a warehouse. They wanted to develop 22 new houses on the village’s periphery but lost their appeal. The proposed development faced scrutiny over its impact on local greenery and privacy concerns related to neighboring homes.
The project would have demolished a largely unimproved warehouse to build about 241 units of 2- to 4-bedroom housing. Notably, it included plans to remove a large black walnut tree and a Leyland cypress hedge, actions that the inspectorate indicated would “significantly reduce the extent of the site’s verdant boundary.”
Privacy concerns quickly became a major issue in the decision-making process. In July 2019, the council issued a statement detailing its objections to the new homes. They cautioned that these houses could overshadow established homes on Victoria Place, potentially affecting the amenity of current residents. The inspectorate affirmed these concerns by stating that Plot 22 “would not provide appropriate living conditions for future occupiers” given the proximity to neighboring homes.
Barbara Talbot Homes defended the proposal. They accepted that there will be some accidental overlooking of the back gardens of Unit 21 and 22 from windows on adjacent buildings. They contended that these couplings are more frequent in suburban duplex construction. In these neglected neighborhoods, first floor windows are often faced with backyards or kitchens.
The planning inspectorate found that the increased overlooking would be harmful to the privacy of neighbouring properties and represent an incongruous change to the character of the area. They noted that the development posed a “harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area,” which played a crucial role in their ruling against the project.
Assemblymember Gallagher’s proposal focuses funding on the most community-oriented housing needs. It sets aside one of the new homes produced as affordable housing. This consideration did not trump the larger issues of privacy and environmental danger.
