Plans for two blocks of flats on one of Hereford’s leafy residential roads amounted to “garden grabbing”, Herefordshire’s planning committee has been told.
While a bungalow was considered to be not in keeping with other houses in Tower Road, proposals to demolish it and replace it with eight one-bedroom flats in two blocks met with strong opposition from members. They were also concerned that the development would generate more traffic using what was considered to be one of the city’s most hazardous road junctions.
While the site at 44 Tower Road was “ripe for redevelopment”, Councillor Polly Andrews believed the bungalow needed to be replaced with two family houses.
“One of the road’s charms is having lots of different housing, but one thing it doesn’t have is blocks of flats,” she said. “Flats are totally inappropriate on this site.”
She added: “This is over-development; it is a classic example of garden grabbing.”
Local resident Jackie Lilley said the proposed building would overshadow her property, and she had serious concerns about noise levels.
She claimed it was “dense garden grabbing”, and she pointed out that 33 letters of objection to the plans had been received as well as a petition with 26 names.
Neighbours were also worried about traffic flow on this no through road with the possibilities of up to 16 extra cars plus visitors driving up and down Tower Road.
Councillor Julie Woodward was concerned about extra traffic using the busy junction of Tower Road with Breinton Road, Westfaling Street and Ryelands Road. “This is one of the most hazardous junctions in the city,” she said. “I also believe this development is out of keeping with the street scene.”
Concerns about traffic were further compounded with claims that development into flats of a nearby old rectory and the former Margaret Allen Preparatory School was also on the cards.
Recommending the proposals, the council’s planning department said the development would not make an unacceptable impact on neighbouring houses, and it was claimed the plans included sufficient parking for residents in the flats.
Speaking on behalf of the developer, Brian Shaw told the meeting 0the new block would be a modern, traditional building in keeping with the area.
“This scheme will provide eight high quality one-bedroomed dwellings adjacent to the park,” he said.
After an in-depth debate on the subject, the committee voted against planning officers’ recommendations for approval.