Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Thu 30 Mar 2023

The proposals seek to change the use of part of the existing residential care home at the above-mentioned site to a single dwelling, alongside the construction of a turntable and other associated works. The Highway Authority are unable to support the proposed development.

The use of a car turntable to address the lack of space within the site to accommodate on-site turning was previously considered under the former consent, and comments made by the LHA regarding this element of the proposal should be re-iterated.

The use of a turntable to meet the on-site turning requirements (as required where access is taken from a classified road) is unsupported as there are a number of factors which cannot be guaranteed and in turn could lead to vehicles reversing onto/out of the hardstand which gives rise to concerns of highway safety. Paragraph 13.72 of the SPD states 'where the entrance is onto a classified road there should be room within the site for the vehicle to enter and exit the public highway in a forward gear'. Therefore, there should be enough space within the development site to enable a vehicle to manoeuvre and complete a turning movement to allow entry and exit in a forward gear. The reliance on any other mechanism to perform on-site turning movements is not accepted in principle and could not be relied upon for its use, nor enforced.

In conclusion, the provision of the turntable is not a reliable solution to address the lack of on-site turning at the site and the LHA would reiterate previous advice to retain the existing, unbuilt and hard surfaced area to the front of the property so that on-site turning movements can continue to be enabled as approved under the previous consent.


Recommendations:

Support
No objection
No objection subject to appropriate mitigation (as identified below)
Object to application X

Planning conditions:
LACK OF ON-SITE TURNING PROVISION
No adequate provision has been made within the site in order to allow a vehicle to turn so that it can enter and exit the highway in a forward gear. The lack of such provision is likely to result in vehicles having to reverse back out onto a busy classified road (Plymstock Road) giving rise to conditions likely to cause:

(a) Prejudice to public safety and convenience;
(b) Interference with the free flow of traffic on the highway;
(c) Unwarranted hazard to vehicular traffic.

The proposal(s) are therefore contrary to Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan adopted March 2019.



The proposed development has been considered in accordance with the Councils current Development Plan Policies and having regard for the National Planning Policy Framework.



Abbie Perry

Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

29/03/2023

Comment Date: Tue 28 Mar 2023

Public Protection Service has no comment to make regarding this application.

Comment Date: Mon 27 Mar 2023

The natural infrastructure team hold no objections to this application.