Further objection to latest planning application

CAG has submitted a follow-on objection (pasted below) addressing PG Groups’s proposed alterations to their planning application for 28 flats in place of Blocks E & F. You can view the full application on the Council’s planning portal or a summary of their proposed changes on our page.


We are writing in response to the alterations submitted by PG Group on 11 May 2021 to the proposals for Blocks E & F at the Carriageworks site.

On 5 March 2021 we lodged an objection to the original application.  In summary our objections were:

  • The design suggests that natural lighting to the residential units is very limited. A daylight assessment has not been provided to give any reassurance on this matter
  • The mix of unit size is adding more small units and removing larger units, thus consolidating a narrow mix across the site as a whole
  • Material colours are depressing
  • Lack of natural surveillance in the sunken courtyard.  Secure by design principles should be applied
  • Loss of natural light and increased overlooking of neighbouring properties will reduce their amenity
  • Increased height and depth of the building is not justified by any commensurate increase in design quality or mix of unit size
  • Lack of any clarity on unit tenure
  • Loss of green space 
  • Lack of a swept path analysis to show that revised parking layout is workable
  • Contradictions within the application which says there will both be and will not be a green roof. The lack of PV panels is excused by reference to a green roof, but the design shows a flat hard surfaced roof.

PG’s alterations propose the following:

  • Reconfiguration of internal layouts, mainly to move bicycle store indoors with the loss of one flat
  • Changes to configuration of windows
  • Grey brick replaced with red and buff brick

There is no written explanation to support the submitted drawings or to explain how the grounds for objection submitted by many parties (including the Crime Reduction Unit, the Conservation Advisory Panel, Montpelier Conservation Group, Bristol Civic Society and many local residents) are being addressed. 

The proposed alterations seem to address our concern about the depressing colour of the building and there is a slight change in unit size mix with a preference to two bed units as opposed to one bed, but our other grounds for objection are not addressed and therefore stand.  

The proposed alterations also show that the new 42 space bicycle store will now be accessed through two sets of doors (external double door of c.1.2m and internal door of c.0.7m width) with a c.1.5m wide joining corridor. This does not comply with good design standards (e.g. London Cycling Design Standards) and will be very awkward to use, if not impossible for users with non-standard sized bicycles.

Unless the above concerns are addressed we believe that this application should be refused planning permission.

UPDATE

Despite numerous and widespread objections, planning permission was granted in September 2021. The main reason appears to be Bristol failing to meet its housing targets which means that all other policy considerations are of insufficient importance to justify refusing permission.

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