Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Tue 11 Feb 2025

The proposals seek to construct a front hardstanding and boundary wall at the above-mentioned property. The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would be unable to support the proposed development.

The scheme has been previously considered under two separate planning applications; 23/01362/FUL and 23/01651/FUL. The LHA recommended both applications for refusal due to the lack of on-site turning provision and the sub-standard site access due to the presence of a bus stop directly to the site frontage.

The plans submitted as part of this new application broadly replicate those provided previously and therefore, the previous comments and recommendation for refusal should be reiterated:

Blandford Road a busy classified road and bus route. In accordance with paragraph 13.87 of the JLP SPD, the standard recommendation for any access onto a classified road is that the turning provision for a car should be provided within a private property so that vehicles can enter and exit the property in a forward gear, in the interests of highway safety. Generally, the minimum dimension required in order to carry out this movement is 16.5m in length and 9m in width. The proposed hardstand falls short of these dimensions and as a result, there is some question as to whether there is space for a vehicle to turn on-site within the confines of the hardstand. In any case, due to the constrained nature of the hardstand, it is likely any vehicles using the handstand would likely reverse on or off the hardstand rather than attempt to turn on-site.

Turning provision aside, the site is further disadvantaged by a nearby bus stop outside the property. The proximity of the bus stop to the hardstand would result in inadequate visibility splays between a car manoeuvring on and off the hardstanding and buses using the nearby bus stop.

Additionally, there is a danger of conflict between vehicles accessing the hardstanding and any pedestrians using the bus stop. Therefore, the proposed access would give rise to highway safety concerns and is therefore not acceptable.

As previously advised, the application also proposes a new domestic vehicle crossing at 4.8m in width and separate consent is required from Network Management for the vehicle crossing and associated dropped kerb. Previously, Network Management stated that the crossing would need to be at least 1m from any street furniture, such as the bus stop.

Whilst the submitted plans appear to try and overcome this via moving the bus stop clearway eastwards by 1m, the proposed crossing would continue to impinge on the clearway by approximately 1m resulting in potential conflict between vehicles emerging from the hardstand and bus operators. The risk of conflict is then also compounded due to the lack of on-site turning provision.

Additionally, the proposed crossing is still not 1m clear from the bus stop signage. Therefore, it not considered that this issue has been overcome and as such, it is likely that an application for a new vehicle crossing and dropped kerb would be refused by Network Management.

In conclusion, the proposed hardstand is not of sufficient size to accommodate on-site turning to allow vehicles to access and egress in a forward gear and therefore, the proposals are contrary to paragraph 13.72 of the SPD. In addition, the location of the bus stop on Blandford Road gives rise to further concerns of highway safety due to the risk of conflict between vehicles and bus stop users/operators and the reduced levels of visibility achievable when a bus is in-situ.

For these reasons, the LHA would recommend the application for refusal.

Whilst it is appreciated there are properties with hardstands and vehicle crossings within the vicinity of the application site, there is no relevant planning permission associated with these developments and each planning application is assessed on its own merit. Furthermore, the LHA would not wish for poor design that fails to comply with current planning guidance to be replicated.

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:
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 (Blandford 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.

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

07/02/2025