2341723
Permission for the following proposed development at the former Hammond Lane premises at Spring Lane, Blackpool, Cork: (A) Demolition of 4 no. existing industrial buildings and 1 no. two-storey office building; (B) removal of concrete slab and weighbridge; (C) Construction of a residential development of 3 buildings containing 62 no. apartments in total (Building no. 1, three storeys, 21 no. units consisting of 10 no. 1-bed apartments and 11 no. 2-bed apartments; Building no.2, four storey, 32 units consisting of 16 no. 2-bed apartments, 16 no. 1-bed apartments; Building no.3, three storey, 9 no. units consisting of 6 no. 1-bed apartments, 3 no. 2-bed apartments); (D) Provision of 16 no. parking spaces, bicycle parking with separate pedestrian access from Spring Lane and new vehicular entrance onto Spring Lane which includes the demolition of portion of the existing road boundary wall, changes to existing boundary treatment and walls; (E) Provision of sealant to contaminated soil ; (F) Underground storm water attenuation tank to be connected to existing storm sewer on Spring Lane; (G) Allowance for provision of a raised platform for future Blackpool flood prevention scheme, as required; (H) Connection to existing public services and all associated site works; The development includes proposed new pedestrian crossing, footpath, road markings, traffic calming measures, redesign of junction of Spring Lane and Dublin Hill. A Road Safety Audit Report is submitted with this application.
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development was refused due to its excessive scale, height, and overbearing impact on neighboring residential amenities, alongside failures to meet national apartment design standards and unresolved flood risk and contamination concerns.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The development's height, scale, and proximity to existing dwellings would result in an overbearing impact and loss of privacy, while the site layout fails to provide adequate usable public open space.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate compliance with the 'Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments' (2022) regarding internal storage and quality standards, and the project is premature pending the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme.
- The absence of a detailed contamination mitigation and management plan means the applicant has not proven the development will not negatively impact public health or the environment.