Approval in principle for the erection of block of ten apartments with associated basement parking facilities to replace existing dwelling

Why Was This Refused?

• ✓Proposed replacement of a detached house with a block of ten apartments and basement parking
• ✓Site sits at a transition between suburban housing and open green space, with the existing leafy setting contributing to local character
• ✓Concern about whether the development would be in keeping with the surrounding area
• ✓Concern about adequacy of external amenity space and parking for future flat occupants
• ✓Concern about visibility at the vehicular access given increased use
• ✓character
• ✓amenity
• ✓parking
• ✓access
• ✓highways
• ✓would the proposed development be in keeping with the area around the site
• ✓would there be adequate amenities for the occupants of the proposed flats, particularly in terms of external space and parking space
• ✓having regard to the increased use of the vehicular access, would the visibility be adequate

This application sought approval in principle to demolish the existing detached house, Brae Villa, on Tromode Road in Douglas, and replace it with a block of ten apartments with basement parking. The site has a frontage of approximately 37.5 metres to the highway and covers around 0.12 hectares. The site sits at a point where Tromode Road transitions from suburban housing to the open green space of playing fields and Port e Chee Meadow. The officer report noted that the leafy character around the existing house contributes positively to this stretch of the road. The application was refused by committee. The officer report identified three main issues: whether the development would fit the character of the area, whether residents would have adequate external space and parking, and whether visibility at the access point would be safe given the greater number of vehicle movements the development would bring.

The application was refused by committee on 3 July 2006. The officer also recommended refusal. The key planning concerns identified in the officer report were whether the proposed block of ten apartments would be in keeping with the character of the area, whether adequate external space and parking would be provided for future residents, and whether visibility at the vehicular access would be sufficient given the increased traffic the development would generate.

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