Monday 13 August 2012

Maynewater Lane flats - again

The Weymed development isn't the only recent local planning application to be revised. Having not consulted with residents before submitting it, another developer's application for 14 flats off Maynewater Lane was refused by the council. The local residents association and I both spoke out against the application at the development control committee meeting, on grounds including the lack of a suitable tree screen, insufficient parking and the general poor design.

A new application is currently out for consultation, which deals with some concerns (e.g. superficially it is less bland) but not others. However, we have suggested watertight conditions regarding the need for an adequate tree screen and the importance of building the affordable block first. If these conditions are included, then the new application, though by no means perfect, will be an improvement on the first. It should also be a lot more attractive than the current landscape!

Well done to the Saxon Gate Residents' Association for their input.
This is expected to go to the borough's development control committee on September 6th.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why do the "Freebies" have to be built first? Surely this discourages buyers from purchasing properties? I would be incandescent if I had scrimped and saved to buy a property and then someone comes along and gets one either for nothing or on the cheap

Anonymous said...


what is affordable housing? Will the developers be selling flats off cheap?

Charlotte Howard said...

Thanks for these comments.

"Affordable" housing means that a housing association or society will agree to take on the sale or rent of this block of flats. It may be that they are offered only to "key workers" (nurses, teachers. etc) and/or that they are sold on a shared-equity scheme.

Local people would like that block built first because I am told that in some schemes elsewhere once the developer has sold the private housing and made a profit they have not bothered to finish the scheme, or have gone bust, leaving a building site in its place.

I hope this answers your questions.