Dozens of locals have objected to details for new a mini housing estate in Nuneaton. There were concerns raised when the original plans for 29 homes to be built on land at the rear of Lilleburne Drive in the Chapel End. area.
But planning permission was granted for the outline application in 2024 with other matters such as lay-out, scale and appearance, to be decided in a future application.
Now these ‘reserved matters’ appear in a new application, which has also been met with a wave of opposition from locals.
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The land sits between both Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council jurisdiction and Nuneaton and Bedworth council has received 20 letters of objection.
These range from:
No need for more houses in the areaIncrease in traffic on Willow Close4. Plough Hill Road is already over capacityTaking away public green spaceLack of infrastructure (schools, doctors etc.) in the areaElderly residents in Willow Close will be adversely affected including from construction trafficLoss of wildlife and biodiversity
There was also a petition, which was signed by 50 residents about the impact on Green Belt and wildlife – but it has not been officially accepted.
“This petition is not considered a valid objection. NBBC’s constitution sets out for an objection to be valid, it shall comprise a letter or email from a single household.”
It adds “The approval of the outline permission concluded that, whilst residential development would permanently change the landscape of the site, the fact the site is surrounded by residential development on three sides and that this form of development would not be incongruous to the wider area, the change that residential development would bring was acceptable. As such, the visual impacts from this form of development have already been assessed and deemed to be acceptable.
“The purpose of this reserved matters application is to now ensure that the relationship between buildings, the size of buildings and their external appearances are acceptable for the location thus dealing with the scale and appearance matter.”
Approval recommended
Despite the objections, planning committee members at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council are being recommended to approve the reserved matters application.
In a report to the committee, it explains that NWBC initially refused outline planning permission of the outline application, it was overturned at appeal.
“NWBC and NBBC are separate authorities processing separate applications,” the report states.
“The outcome of NWBC applications does not direct the outcome of NBBC applications – and vice versa – however they are a material consideration.
“Access was determined at outline stage. Access is not a matter under consideration as part of this application. The approved access off Willow Close cannot be amended as this stage, unless a fresh application to amend the outline permission was received and approved.
“As the site has an outline permission for 29 dwellings, and is allocated for development of 29 dwellings in the Borough Plan Review, the principle of development for the site as suitable and deliverable for 29 dwellings has already been confirmed .This application is not an opportunity to consider whether the principle of development is acceptable, but rather to assess whether remaining reserved matters (scale, layout ,landscaping, and appearance) comply with the outline permission and relevant policy considerations.
It adds that In regard to the current application, it seeks approval of details for a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme, whereas at the time of the outline application approval the proposal was for a mixed open market/affordable housing proposal.
The development has courted controversy
It adds: “Having regard to the pattern of existing development in the area, relevant provisionsof the development plan, and the consultation responses received, it is considered that subject to compliance with the conditions attached to thispermission, the proposed development would be in accordance with the developmentplan, would not materially harm the character or appearance of the area or the livingconditions of neighbouring occupiers and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safetyand convenience.”
The planning committee will meet on Tuesday, May 26 at the Town Hall in Nuneaton to decide whether to approve the latest application.
North Warwickshire Borough Council will hold its own planning meeting to make its decision.
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