Planning – Application Comments

Consultation Date: Tue 25 Jul 2023

Consultation Date: Mon 11 Sep 2023

Consultation Date: Tue 14 Nov 2023

Consultation Date: Mon 11 Sep 2023

Consultation Date: Tue 14 Nov 2023

Comment Date: Mon 24 Jul 2023

The proposals seeks to construct a new wooden vehicle gate and new sections of boundary walls at the access to the off-street parking area and car port previously consented under application 23/00465/FUL. The Local Highway Authority would be unable to support the proposed development due to lack of visibility at the site access.

At present, the adjoining boundary walls are no more than 1m high for between 1.2m and 1.5m on either side of the site access which provides adequate levels of inter-visibility between emerging cars and pedestrians using the public footway. As part of the previous consent, and as stated within the Officer Report for such, the applicant had confirmed that there were no proposed changes to the existing boundary walls.

The proposed development seeks to infill these lower sections of boundary walls to support the proposed vehicle gates. Such works would remove the inter-visibility at the site access which would give rise to concerns of highway safety for all road users, especially pedestrians. Therefore, it is clear that the proposed works would degrade the existing site access.

The applicant might consider amending the design to replace the proposed sections of walling with open railings (similar to that of other properties in the area, evidenced in photographs within the submission documents) which would adequately maintain the existing levels of inter-visibility.

However, in its current form, the LHA would be unable to recommend in favour of the application due the impact on visibility at the site access and resultant concerns over highway safety.


Recommendations:

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

If 'object' on what grounds?

Reasons for refusal:
Sub-Standard access:
It is considered that the proposed access arrangement is unsuitable for its intended use and is therefore likely to give rise to issues of personal and highway safety. Vehicular movements arising from the development would give 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

24/04/2023