Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Wed 23 Apr 2025

Plymouth City Council
Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

Transport Planning Team
Ext: 01752 307813
Date: 23rd April 2025
Ethan Bell
Development Management
Strategic Planning & Infrastructure
Floor 2
Ballard House

Dear Ethan

Highway Authority Consultation Response to a Planning Application


APPLICATION NO: 25/00540/FUL

SITE: 2 THORNYVILLE DRIVE, PLYMOUTH

DEVELOPMENT: Two-storey side extension with double garage and single storey rear extension


Observations:

Whilst slightly below the required minimum internal dimensions as stated in the JLP SPD, the proposed garage (which measures 3.1m in width by 6.3m in length) is considered to be sufficient in terms of providing off-road car parking.

As a result of the creation of the garage to the side of the property, it would not be possible to provide enough space for a vehicle to be parked in front of it at a 90 degree angle to the highway. The applicant has sought to address this by providing a vehicular hardstanding which primarily takes-up the entire front garden area.

The layout of the hardstanding area will result in vehicles either driving into it or reversing off it at an oblique 45 degree angle (rather than the more usual 90 degree angle). Whilst such an arrangement is far from ideal from a highway safety perspective, it is acknowledged that this section of Thornyville Drive is a cul-de-sac and as such both the number of vehicular movements and speed of traffic are likely to be quite low. On this basis it would be difficult to sustain a highway recommendation of refusal of the application.

However, entering/exiting the hardstanding area at a 45 degree angle will necessitate a greater length of the existing footway being lowered in order to facilitate such. Whilst the dwelling does currently benefit from a dropped kerb crossing, this would have to be increased across the entire width of the frontage, thereby leading to the loss of existing on-street car parking on Thornyville Drive. For this reason, it is likely that any application submitted to Street Services for the lowering of the footway would likely to be opposed and rejected for the reasons mentioned above.

To conclude, the LHA would not wish to raise any objections to this application. However, the applicant should be made aware that permission for lowering the kerb and footway across the entire frontage of the property on Thornyville Drive is unlikely to be granted.

Recommendation:

The Highway Authority recommends that the following conditions should be incorporated into any grant of planning permission:-

TN27 SURFACING OF DRIVEWAY/PARKING AREAS
Before the development hereby permitted is brought into use, the driveway and parking area shall either be (a) constructed using a permeable construction or (b) hard paved for a distance of not less than 2m from the edge of the public highway and drained to a private soakaway; and shall thereafter be maintained to ensure satisfactory access to the adjoining highway, in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:
To ensure that no private surface water or loose material is deposited onto the adjoining highway in the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policy DEV29 of the Plymouth and South West Devon JLP 2019.

IN12 INFORMATIVE: KERB LOWERING
Before the extended access hereby proposed is first brought into use it will be necessary to secure dropped kerbs and footway crossings with the consent of the Local Highway Authority. The applicant should contact Plymouth Highways for the necessary approval. Precise details of all works within the public highway must be agreed with the Highway Authority.


Scott Smy
Transport Development Coordinator

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