SD22A/0406
Demolition of an existing commercial two storey building and the construction of 2 commercial units with Plantroom on Ground floor level with 8 residential apartments comprising 2 one Bed apartments 3 two bed apartments and 3 three bed apartments all with private balconies over 4 floors; A communal roof garden is located on the fourth floor; Enclosed bin stores for the commercial and residential units is located at the rear of the building; 5 total car parking spaces including 1 disabled car space is provided; 8 bicycle spaces are provided at the front for commercial units and 10 no. bicycle spaces at the rear for residential units; Sustainable drainage (SuDs) roof and roof garden are provided for the development and all associated engineering and site works necessary to facilitate the development.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development, by reason of its excessive height, bulk, and scale relative to the established character of the area, combined with a dominant surface parking layout and poor-quality residential open space, would result in a discordant addition to the streetscape and fail to provide an adequate level of amenity for future occupants.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The five-storey building height and heavy block form represent a significant and incongruous variance from the established one and two-storey pattern of the area, appearing overly dominant in the streetscape.
- The public realm proposal is deficient as it retains surface car parking as the dominant feature, failing to improve pedestrian connectivity or contribute meaningfully to the visual amenity of the Local Centre.
- The residential amenity for future occupants is compromised by poor-quality communal open space with inadequate sunlight and private balconies that require high opaque screening, which severely impacts connectivity to the outdoors.