Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Thu 24 Apr 2025

Plymouth City Council
Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

Transport Planning Team
Ext: 01752 307813
Date: 24th April 2025
Cody Beavan
Development Management
Strategic Planning & Infrastructure
Floor 2
Ballard House

Dear Cody

Highway Authority Consultation Response to a Planning Application


APPLICATION NO: 25/00519/FUL

SITE: 124 CHURCH HILL, PLYMOUTH

DEVELOPMENT: Single storey rear/side extension and front hardstand


Observations:

The LHA would have to object to this application on the basis of the following:

The creation of the extension to the side of the property has removed the possibility of parking taking place in this area and instead moved it further forward. This has resulted in the available parking area measuring just 4.4m in length which is less than the required minimum of 4.8m. This would therefore result in vehicles parking in this area overhanging the adopted footway which runs alongside Church Hill, thereby giving rise to highway safety concerns.

The loss of the area of existing area of car parking alongside the property (referred to above) has necessitated creating a hardstanding area across the entire front garden area of the property. In addition to the depth of the hardstanding area being less than the required 4.8m (giving rise to the overhang issues mentioned above), the entire footway and kerb along the frontage of the property would have to be lowered in order to provide access to such. This would lead to the removal of existing on-street kerbside car parking and as such any street works application submitted for the undertaking of works to lower the footway and kerbs would be opposed by colleagues within Street Services.
On the basis of the comments made above, I would have to recommend this application for refusal for the reason stated below.

Recommendation:

The Highway Authority recommends that planning permission should be refused for the following reason:-

Sub-Standard Off-Street Car Parking Area
The proposed off-street car parking area/hardstanding serving the property is sub-standard in length resulting in the likelihood of vehicles parking on it overhanging the adopted footway that runs alongside Church Hill. This would cause a hazard to pedestrians using the footway thereby giving rise to conditions likely to cause:
(a) Prejudice to public safety and convenience.
(b) Unwarranted hazard to pedestrian movements
which is contrary to Policy DEV29 of the Plymouth and South West Devon JLP.


Scott Smy
Transport Development Coordinator

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