Plans to turn historic Coventry house into flats refusedPlans to turn a historic Coventry house into flats have been rejected. The scheme was refused permission by the council last week (13 March.)
It would have seen an old care home in a conservation area extended and converted into eight self-contained flats. The Langleys building in Stoke Green dates back to the 1600s and is a "rare survival," reports say.
The house was added to in later centuries and expanded notably in the late 1980s. But a council officer said the latest scheme should not go ahead for several reasons, including how it would affect the historic home.
The officer criticised the design quality of a planned extension and said it "detracts from" the locally listed building. The size of the flats also came under fire for being below national standards, and the officer said some windows in the extension would lead to overlooking and a loss of privacy for a neighbour.
The officer concluded that the negative effects of the scheme would outweigh its pros of providing more homes amid the city's housing shortage. The plans were hit by three letters of objection from residents, their report also revealed.
Opponents claimed there was "no clarity" in the plans over what the site would be used for and said a site office "raises questions" on its use. They also voiced fears about who would live there - saying that if it is for ex-offenders or high-risk patients, it would be a "risk" to all residents.
Responding to these comments, the officer wrote that the flats would be rented and managed by the applicant. They said that using an office on a monthly basis on the site is "not a normal scenario" but said this would not be a reason to turn the plans down.
"In terms of the occupants, the applicant has indicated that each resident who occupies will be given a background check but this isn't a matter to which the planning authority can condition or be involved in," the report added.