Coventry council rejects housing scheme with 'cramped' layout

[dutchman]

Developers wanted to replace a gym with affordable housing



Plans for 'affordable housing' in Coventry have been refused permission by the council. Developers wanted to knock down a gym and house in Hillfields for a new terrace of nine two-bedroom homes.

But an official criticised the scheme's layout, housing quality and parking provision, new documents show. They described the proposals as "cramped" and said it would provide "substandard" housing.

Old warehouse buildings used as a gym and an end terrace house on 48 Coronation Road were planned to be demolished for the scheme. Documents with plans showed the new two-storey houses would have been available to residents at social, intermediate or affordable rents.

But a planning officer raised several issues with the proposals in their report assessing the bid. They said it is "evident" nine homes cannot fit on the site and serve as a high-quality place for people to live.

The official criticised the scheme as providing a "very cramped and highly contrived layout solution" which lacks enough car parking or private outside space for residents. They also pointed out that with no outdoor areas for the homes, windows in seven of the houses are directly next to an adjoining park.

They said this could cause potential problems, writing: "Whilst natural surveillance can be positive there is no defined public/private buffer between the public open space and the habitable windows and future occupiers could be subject to poor levels of privacy and anti-social behaviour." The officer added that the other two homes have a "single aspect" that would be a poor-quality environment for people living there.

One of the houses looks directly onto a parking bay "limiting views" they wrote. And they highlighted a shortfall in space inside the homes, saying several of the plots would be just three-quarters the size of national standards.

"Overall, the contrived nature of the development creates substandard dwellinghouses that will provide a poor quality residential environment for future occupiers," they said. Parking was also singled out as an issue due to a lack of space for cars to move and a shortfall of nearly half the required parking bays for the scheme.

The officer did agree the buildings could be knocked down at the site and the location would be suitable for housing. But they recommended it be turned down and the council refused the scheme permission last week, 2 April.

More details on the plans and the decision can be found on the council's planning portal via reference: PL/2025/0000074/OUT.