By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to demolish Gloucester’s only high rise housing block to make way for 36 new homes have been rejected amid serious parking concerns.
Gloucester City Homes want to demolish Clapham Court and redevelop the site off Alvin Street in Kingsholm.
Their proposals, which were rejected by Gloucester City Council’s planning committee on December 3, included the construction of 36 homes, a community garden and a pharmacy.
The plan was for the housing to be split between three blocks. Block one would have had three two storey terraced houses.
With a row of four three-storey houses being the second block and then a six storey block of flats at the east end.
A pharmacy was also proposed within the ground floor beneath the flats. Some 16 residents objected to the proposals and raised concerns about parking.
The planning officers recommended that the committee should refuse planning permission.
And Councillor Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) raised a formal objection and called for the proposals to be referred to the committee.
He said he is not opposed to the principle of redeveloping but has concerns over the lack of parking.
Cllr Hilton spoke at the meeting at North Warehouse and called on the committee to reject the scheme. “I’ve always been neutral on whether it should be kept and refurbished or whether it should be demolished,” he said.
He tried to get details from the City Homes as to why the building was being demolished but was unsuccessful.
“I don’t know what the thinking is by Gloucester City Homes. I do agree with the planning officer.
“It will have a negative impact on the residents of Union Street. It’s not fair that they should have a reduction in the natural light hitting their homes.”
He said one of his major concerns was the lack of parking.
“It’s woefully inadequate for the number of people,” he said. “There will be families and they will need cars. It’s going to overload the area.
“I just think nobody has thought about that issue. The parking for these proposals is totally inadequate.”
He called on the committee to support the officer’s recommendation and reject the application.
Mark Godson, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said the proposals would provide a good mix of homes.
He said there was significant overlooking from the existing tower and other properties. “The harm is not unacceptable given the improvement to amenity to other residents,” he said.
“The benefits of the scheme are significant. This proposal includes a much better mix of homes. This scheme includes a 15 per cent biodiversity net gain. It includes fully designed cycle storage.”
Mr Godson requested that planning permission was granted or deferred to allow councillors to visit the site before making a decision. Councillor Pam Tracey (C, Westgate) said there is a parking issue around that area.
“It’s horrendous to park,” she said. “[Because of] people and so many students in Oxford Road, residents cannot park their cars at night.
“And what do we do on rugby days? It’s not going to work.
“You’ve got the school, the cinema… I’m just worried about all those residents.”
Highways officers said they understand the concerns around parking. ,
But they said the parking services team at Shire Hall said the existing flats in Clapham Court are already entitled to 160 on street parking permits. They said the proposals would lead to a reduction in on street parking demand.
Parking concerns were echoed by Cllr Roseanna Marshall (L, Barton and Tredworth). She said the scheme was not “well planned out” and her main concern was accessibility for emergency vehicles.
And Cllr Linda Castle (LD, Longlevens) said the plans would create mayhem. She suggested the council should be told why the building needs to be demolished.
“You can’t park there at any time of day. The traffic is horrendous.”
Councillor Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale) said the extra housing would make parking problems worse.
“This is a half hearted way of trying to get rid of two towers,” he said. “They need to come down but the design of the proposals are not acceptable.”
Cllr Alwin Wiederhold (LD, Hucclecote) also said the plans were not good enough. And Cllr Tracey said the scheme is a “no-go”. “It needs condensing right down.
“It would be better to keep Clapham Court there. We can move people back in.
“I’m going with the Kingsholm councillors. I totally agree with them. City Homes will have to go back and redraw their plan.”
Cllr Alastair Chambers (IC, Matson, Robinswood and White City) said Clapham Court was not fit for purpose and there is a desperate need for homes in the city.
He said good quality energy efficient homes would be provided under the plans along with more trees.
“We’ve got more rough sleepers this year than last year,” he said. “I can’t believe people are thinking about voting against. Our city needs houses.”
Chairman Angela Conder (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) proposed rejecting the scheme.
This was seconded by Cllr Lewis. The planning application was refused by eight votes to two.