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