Large four-bed detached homes approved in Coventry's historic Ancient Arden

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There was concern it did not fit in with the historic area



Approval has been given for five large detached houses in Coventry’s Ancient Arden.

The four-bedroom houses will be built in a ‘courtyard style’ on Washbrook Lane in Allesley.

Cassidy Group received unanimous approval on Thursday, November 12, despite a last-ditch plea from neighbours who argued it wasn’t in keeping with the historic setting.

Neighbours argued it did not meet Ancient Arden design guidelines although planning officers said it was “consistent” and the developer also disputed the claims.

One resident, Martin Edge, said: “Our family supports a redevelopment of the cornerway site but we cannot support this proposal and we don’t believe the council can support it either.

“Essentially it comprises five bulky identical buildings arranged in a geometric rectangle in a confined space with inadequate garden.



“It lacks, in our view, any sensitivity to the surroundings. At present we are eight residences in this Arden community in Hawkes End and this proposal of five new modular dwellings will overwhelm the existing setting.”

But planning officer Anne Lynch said: “It doesn’t meet all of the criteria but the policy team are satisfied it meets the principles of it with this scale.”

The site is in the green belt but some of it – land occupied by business Swann Baits and Animal Feeds – is classed as previously developed land and brownfield.

Those buildings will be demolished to make way for the homes, but some areas outside the existing permitted development rights will also be built on.

It led to some concern from Cllr Allan Andrews over what ‘very special circumstances’ had been met to grant permission, however the committee was told the overall footprint of the area will reduce compared to the current usage, with trees also set to be planted on Tarmaced land to compensate for any loss and a condition imposed for it to remain as open space.

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Agent Ben Cook, on behalf of applicant Cassidy Group, said: “The dwellings have been designed to aesthetically resemble converted barns whilst incorporating key characteristics for new homes in the Arden design guide such as chimneys, gable roofs, window eaves detailing and dovecote detailing on the gable ends. I fully believe that this development does comply with the Arden design guidelines.”

Chimneys?