Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Fri 10 Jan 2025

The proposals seek to replace the existing garage at the above-mentioned property with a new enlarged garage and store. The Local Highway Authority (LHA) are unable to support the proposed development.

At present, the garage is set back from the edge of the public highway which allows sufficient levels of inter-visibility to be achieved so that emerging vehicles can see whether any pedestrians are travelling along the footway and vice versa.

The proposals to increase the size of the garage result in the front elevation being brought forward by approximately 1.8m - right up to the boundary line of the property and the back of the public footway.

This removes any level of inter-visibility available between emerging vehicles and pedestrians travelling along the public footway which gives rise to concerns of highway safety and would not be acceptable to the LHA.

As such, the proposed development would degrade the existing vehicle access and for this reason, the LHA would recommend the application for refusal.

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

08/01/2025