Housing Development on Gym Car Park Recommended For Approval
Over 20 new homes could be built on car parking space for a Wrexham Gym with plans for a proposed development recommended for approval.
In an application due to go before Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee next Monday it has been recommended that proposals to develop 24 houses on the Total Fitness Gym car park are approved.
The initial application was submitted in October 2015, with Wrexham.com reporting that the development would consist of 10 two bedroom homes and 14 three bedroom homes on surplus car parking space on the Stansty Road gym.
A total of 48 parking spaces would also be provided for the development – which would result in the reduction of 105 spaces for Total Fitness customers.
Details regarding the appearance of the housing are provided within the report, which states that the development will: “Provide a strong built frontage to Stansty Road. Dwellings will also front onto a new internal estate road that will also provide access to the remaining Total Fitness site.
“Dwellings will also front onto a new internal estate road that will also provide access to the remaining Total Fitness site. The site boundaries fronting Stansty Road will be enclosed by low brick walls. Parking will be provided either on private driveways within the curtilages of dwellings or communal parking areas located at the rear thus parked cars will not dominate the
appearance of the site.”
The report states that 41 neighbouring occupants to the site were contacted, with representations from four individuals received expressing concerns about the development.
These included the potential risk of flooding, insufficient parking space for those using the gym, the potential impact on local infrastructure including schools and health services; issues with the site boundaries and the ‘ lunacy of the application will bring the Council into severe disrepute if granted and will provoke a full investigation of the circumstances of its approval’.
One of the main fears put forward by residents was the potential impact any additional traffic and congestion could have on what is already a notoriously busy junction, particularly at peak times throughout the day.
The concerns are also echoed by the Highways Department, who state: “Given that the existing highway layout fronting the site along Stansty Road/New Road already suffers from significant levels of congestion during the morning and evening peak hours I would not normally wish to support any additional development at this site which would result in an increase in traffic
movements through this access onto this section of the highway network.
“A previous application (P/2008/1152) was allowed on appeal subject to conditions including one to improve the site access off Stansty Road. Based on the previous appeal decision it is accepted that some moderate sized development could potentially be accommodated which could operate in conjunction with the existing fitness centre.”
Comments by the Highways Department continue onto state that a parking survey had been undertaken at the site, which showed that of the 269 spaces available at the site 192 were filled on one day and 151 on a second.
Addressing the concerns regarding the loss of car parking space for the gym, the Planning Officer states: “I appreciate that a reduction in the number of parking spaces and/or the
introduction of car park management scheme will mean that anyone who uses the car park but does not attend or work at the gym will have to park elsewhere but this is not a relevant material consideration.
“Irrespective of whether the proposed development is implemented the use of the car park by anyone other than gym members or staff is entirely at the discretion of the landowner and could be stopped at any time. It would be unreasonable to refuse permission for this development or insist upon higher levels of on-site parking to cater for demand that is not directly connected with the operational use of the gym.
“Taking all of the above into account, in my opinion the provision of 195 parking spaces for use by Total Fitness will adequately cater for peak demand for the majority of the time.”
The report continues onto conclude: “The current application proposes a development that will enhance the appearance of the site and will not prejudice the standard of amenity afforded to occupiers of adjacent properties or highway safety. The proposals are in therefore in accordance with the relevant UDP (Unitary Development Plan) policies.”
The application will be debated by members of Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee on Monday 7th March at 4pm. For those who can’t make the meeting it will be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.
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