CONCERNS have been raised over plans which have been lodged to demolish a recently closed car dealership and build more than 30 residential properties.
In July Bristol Street Motors situated in London Road closed its doors for good - the site had been used for the motor trade for six decades.
This week plans have been submitted to Stroud District Council to build 35 residential dwellings, two vehicular access points - one off London Road and another off Arundell Mill Lane plus open space.
According to the plans the properties would entail 9 three-bed houses, 17 two bed apartments plus 9 one-bed maisonettes.
There would also be 45 parking spaces - 26 to be allocated for flats/maisonettes, 18 for houses and 5 for unallocated visitors.
Multiple objections have however this week been raised by members of Stroud Town Council following a meeting.
The council's consultation and highways committee met on Monday to discuss the plans, saying that they have identified several areas of concern and non-compliance with the Stroud District Council (SDC) Local Plan policies.
Key issues raised in the committee’s response to SDC planning officers include the 'lack of affordable housing provision', 'insufficient electric vehicle charging points', 'potential flood risk from water flowing down the hill and not draining properly' plus 'inadequate bin storage and lack of access for refuse vehicles, forcing collection from the main road'.
Speaking on behalf of the three Trinity ward councillors (Lucas Schoemaker, Sue Fenton and Simon Jacobson), deputy mayor Susan Fenton said: "While something needs to be done with the unattractive and useless site, it needs to be done well.
"If it’s going to be housing, it’s a chance to really enhance the town’s housing stock and that means conforming to the 30 per cent affordable policy and plans must include adequate energy efficiency measures, such as solar panels and enough charging points etc.”
Cllr Schoemaker has asked for the application to be “called in” by the district council, meaning that this issue will be discussed by Stroud District Council’s Development Control Committee who will carefully consider all comments received from the public.
The town council committee say they strongly encourage members of the public to submit their comments on this application online.
A planning statement, prepared by Pegasus Group on behalf of Altus Homes, read: "The proposed development has been carefully designed to make efficient use of the land and respect its position on the outskirts of the town centre and within the built- up urban area.
"The design has had regard to the site’s location in the built- up urban area, but also in proximity of the Cotswolds AONB and conservation areas in Stroud.
"It has been carefully designed to integrate into the street scene and to take account of the levels changes across the site, whilst also considering potential effects on nearby residential amenity, privacy concerns and overlook.
"The application proposes the redevelopment of a brownfield site in a sustainable, urban location.
"The development proposals would be an efficient and effective use of this under utilised site."
Search for S.24/0826/FUL on the SDC to see the plans or visit - tinyurl.com/3j6uz9uf
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