Green Light For 20 Flats On Former Gasworks Site

Proposals to build 20 flats on a former works site on Rivulet Road were given the go ahead by the Council’s Planning Committee last night.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of the five storey building which will see 20 residential apartments, with parking and landscaping bought to the currently disused site.

The plans have raised concerns of privacy among residents of the nearby Willow Bridge Court. The upper floors of the apartment building will overlook the rear windows and garden area of the recently completed houses on the court.

Mrs Lorraine Wilson, who was representing the tenants on the road invited the committee to the site to visit a a house on Willow Bridge Court and Salop Road, saying that residents feel they will have to live behind drawn curtains. Mrs Wilson also commented on the flats that had been demolished on Kingsmill Road, asking for two storey builds over the proposed apartment build.

Mrs Wilson explained that the initial planning application was granted before the new houses surrounding the site had been built, “There was no one there to complain at that time”. Details of concerns over 20 waste bins being located by gardens and properties were also given.

The 20 flats will be provided with 20 parking spaces, which was described as ‘below standards’, however due to the location and economic benefits of the development this was not seen as a major concern.

In response to Mrs Wilson, Cllr Keith Gregory said “I am abit shocked as I have had no complaints about this. I am quite happy with it really.”

Fears over the height of the building and the potential risk of blocking out light was also raised. This lead to a debate on the possibility to make the apartments three storey over five, however it was pointed out that the flats will be lower than the existing properties and therefore are essentially seen as a three story development.

Potential age restrictions on the apartments was also considered, with Cllr Andy Williams asking: ‘Is the accommodation appropriate for the over 50s?’ and if there would be more than one lift available.

The Chair of the committee said: “The age is unrestricted”. Cllr Phil Wynn echoed the call for a lift to be part of the condition of the planning, however he was told that if the plans were approved they do contain a lift.

The overall appearance of the building also came under fire, with debate on whether it would be an ‘eyesore’ on a street of traditional buildings. One of the suggestions to help with the physical appearance of the building was to change the colouring by painting it, to help it blend in with the street.