Disused Stoke church could be knocked down for flats...

[dutchman]

But locals still have concerns - and councillors will make the final call



An old Coventry church could be knocked down for flats after developers came up with new plans for the site. A bid to demolish the 1950s Methodist Church at MacDonald Road for 14 homes was refused by the council last year.

Esprit Homes Construction Ltd also saw their appeal against the decision turned down by a government inspector in January. Coventry planning officers say a revised scheme for 10 homes on the site in Stoke has overcome original concerns and should get the green light.

But the bid has been hit with objections from 14 neighbours and two council departments - so will be decided on by the council's planning committee this Thursday (5 October.) One of the main changes is a two-storey block being removed from the planned flats, according to a report for the meeting.

This is a "significant improvement" on the previous scheme, planning officers say. The design is "less bulky" and there is more shared space for residents, the report says - adding that it means the fewer parking spaces are more accessible.

But local residents have raised 12 issues with the new designs in their objections, the report said. These range from the development being "over-intensive" to impacts on privacy and pollution.

The council's planning policy team have also objected over a lack of recent marketing for the building, which has been empty for six years. The previous application had marketing evidence - now four years old - that the site was no longer viable as a community facility.

But a council officer pointed out that it is a re-submission and the "principle of development" was not challenged at the appeal in January, so bringing in a new reason to turn it down would not be likely to be seen as reasonable. The site is also "in a less usable state" so would need even more investment to turn around, they said.

Another objection from a council team was over a lack of sustainability measures. But the number of units has now changed so it is not a "major development," meaning these details are not needed.

Making these conditions of planning approval would also be 'not reasonable' in the officer's view, the report said. If the scheme goes ahead, developers have agreed to pay £15,000 to improve local parks.

The 10 flats would be a range of sizes including six three-bedroom units.