Green light for new retirement apartments in Cheylesmore...

[dutchman]

Plans led to criticism from locals - but a committee gave it unanimous support



New retirement apartments have been approved in Coventry.

Unanimous approval for a three-storey retirement complex on vacant grassland next to 1-21 Ebbw Vale Terrace, in Cheylesmore, was granted at a meeting on Thursday, January 14.

The bid had been brought forward by Citizen on a site that formerly housed a sheltered housing block over two storeys, which was demolished a few years ago.

That was for 16 rooms, while the new plans are for 30.

But it did not come without a fight from locals, who raised a 179-name petition in opposition fearing a loss of privacy due to the height, a loss of greenland, and concern it would cause traffic congestion.

“The planning application is simply too big,” petition organiser Rafael Salguero told the meeting. “It is an over-development that will transform the area.”

One resident, Samir Iqbal, said a three-storey building would be a “major concern for my privacy” and impact on light levels on his bungalow opposite the site.

Another, Marie Wall, said her home would be “exposed and overlooked” by the three-storey block as her house was predominantly glass to the rear.

“This has not been taken into consideration and no-one has been out or addressed this since the plans were submitted in 2018,” she said.

However planning officer Dean Leadon said the properties would be in excess of 20 metres from windowed-elevations in the apartment block, which is considered “sufficiently set back to not pose an overlooking issue”.

A 15-space car park fell short of the 34 spaces required by council policy however Highways did not object as “a range of transport links are available”, with the site in a “sustainable location”.

Planning officers recommended approval and the committee unanimously agreed.

[dutchman]

One resident, Samir Iqbal, said a three-storey building would be a “major concern for my privacy” and impact on light levels on his bungalow opposite the site.

I bet he said a lot more than that!

This was how the site looked before:



The full plans can be seen here: http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/ ... KID=809367

They include 30 bike spaces and baby changing room!

[dutchman]

Work starts on 'all-electric' Coventry retirement complex



Work on an 'all-electric' retirement complex in Coventry has started, after getting the green light in January 2021. The scheme, called Swift Court, is being built on Ebbw Vale Terrace by Citizen Housing and will provide 30 flats for the over 55s.

The development in Cheylesmore will replace Eric Inott House and the previous building on the site which was a 16 flat retirement development. The three-storey retirement complex on vacant grassland next to 1-21 Ebbw Vale Terrace was given unanimous approval early last year.

Citizen have said they expect work on the three story complex to finish in December. It will be an "all electric" building, which means no appliances will run on gas. Citizen are working with Harper Group construction to install photovoltaic panels on the roof.

They say this will contribute towards the running costs of communal lighting and reduce the service charges for customers. As well as individual flats, the block will include a communal area, kitchenette, lounge, and office.

[dutchman]

I assumed it had already been built!