New housing with ‘poor door’ wins planning permission

Plans for 40 homes knocked back by councillors for having a separate “poor door” entrance to the affordable flats have been approved at the second attempt.

Bristol City Council planning committee deferred its decision in January and demanded changes to the “shaming” design of Prelon Homes’ proposed development, including a lift and disabled parking to ensure the eight affordable apartments were fully accessible.

Members have now granted permission after most of their requests were accepted, although neighbours remained concerned the six-storey building at a light industrial site in Ashton Gate would be “right up in our faces” with a loss of privacy and overshadowing.

And the private and affordable housing sections of the L-shaped block, containing a total of seven, three-storey townhouses fronting onto Durnford Street and 33 flats stretching back towards Baynton Road near Greville Smyth Park, will still have their own separate entrances.

But when the application was brought back to the development control committee on Wednesday, April 6, councillors heard the two doorways were now “indistinguishable” from each other and of “equal standing”.

Prelon Homes’ proposal for 40 homes would replace a light industrial site in Ashton Gate – photo: Google

The affordable flats would also now have a lift, two parking spaces, a larger lobby and access to the communal garden.

Three other requests could not be implemented – a balcony at the only affordable flat without one, for safety reasons; more parking spaces, because there wasn’t room; and landscaping to the rear, which was not possible because of access issues.

But Tory councillor for Bishopsworth Richard Eddy told the meeting the applicant had made progress on the big issues and had improved the proposal.

“It overwhelmingly meets the committee’s reservations in January. This is an acceptable scheme and we should approve it,” he said.

Labour councillor for St George Troopers Hill Fabian Breckels said: “The key issues we raised have been addressed.

“We’ve asked them to make changes and they have done that, so it would not be reasonable for us not to approve it now, and it does give us some affordable housing.”

Green councillor for Cotham Guy Poultney said: “I’m torn. The issues raised by the previous committee do seem to largely have been addressed.

“Parking is a massive problem but a condition seems to ensure this will be a low car ownership building. That said, the thing is huge. It will absolutely dominate that space.”

Southville ward Green councillor Christine Townsend, who first raised the issue of a “poor door” when objecting to the original plans, told the latest meeting that parking was “by far the biggest issue for residents” because the site was 200 metres from Ashton Gate stadium.

Planning officers have included an advice note to the highways department in the list of conditions, which councillors asked for, that none of the new properties should be eligible for permits in a residents’ parking zone.

Members agreed with the recommendation to grant consent by 5-3 votes.

Main photo: Prelon Homes 

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