Three-bedroom dwelling at Yard Adjacent To 11 Blackhorse Road, Sidcup

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing an end-of-terrace garage and building a two-storey, three-bedroom dwelling with parking, cycle and refuse storage.

“The proposal is for the erection of two-storey end of terrace dwellinghouse along with associated parking and cycle and refuse storage following demolition of existing garages.”

“The proposal seeks to demolish the end of terrace garage and construct a two-storey, three-bedroom residential dwelling.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was at the southern end of Blackhorse Road, within a controlled parking zone, with moderate public transport accessibility.

“The proposal site is located at the southern end of Blackhorse Road approximately 90m south of its junction with Sidcup High Street. Blackhorse Road is an unclassified road and designated a Local Access Road in the Councils road hierarchy.”

“The site falls within the Sidcup Town Centre Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), that is enforced between 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Blackhorse Road is a Permit Parking Area (PPA) from the proposal site to the junction with Back Road.”

Officer report

Earlier application

A previous car-free application had been refused, and the revised proposal included one parking space on an adjacent site.

“Following a previously refused application for a car free development the applicant is proposing a single parking space allocated on an adjacent site facing Grassington Road. A side entry door into the ground floor would allow access to the parking area, approximately 15 metres south of the site. Parking demand is known to be high in the locality with significant pressure on Blackhorse Road, the narrow-terraced houses not having any off-street parking provision.”

“Whilst the removal of the ability to obtain a parking permit does not prevent the future occupants from parking in Blackhorse Road outside of the prescribed hours, the proposed parking space accessed via Grassington Road would provide an adequately accessible alternative.”

Officer report

Concerns raised

Neighbours raised concerns about construction damage and the sewer and drainage systems, but officers did not consider these material planning reasons for refusal.

“It is considered that many of the key issues raised have been addressed in the above assessment, however, further comment is provided hereon.”

“Concerns have been raised by neighbours in relation to potential damage to surrounding properties during construction of the proposal and to the sewer and drainage systems under the site which could prevent the development being undertaken. Whilst these concerns are noted, these would not form material planning considerations which should form a part of this assessment or reasons for the refusal of this application.”

Officer report

Who spoke

[name withheld] addressed the committee to object to the application.

Members’ discussion

Members considered the observations, comments from the speaker and the officer report before discussing the recommendation and an alternative refusal motion.

“The Committee discussed the application, considered all observations, points and comments made by the speaker and noted the report for this application.”

“Following their discussion, the Committee moved and seconded the recommendation as set out in the report, with an additional informative around the Thames Water permission for the combined sewer, but this was not supported on a vote of 6/5 (the Chairman used his casting vote).”

Minutes

The decision

The application was refused because traffic, parking, comings and goings, and the property’s location would unacceptably affect existing residents’ amenity.

“The key reason given for refusal was when considering the unique situation in Blackhorse Road, due to the comings and goings, traffic, parking, and to the location of the property on the road, had meant that the development would have an unacceptable impact on existing residents’ amenity.”

Minutes