18 temporary homes at Car Park, Meteor Way, Chelmsford

The site and surroundings

The site comprised an 86-space car park and a demolished former community building, near community uses, homes, commercial buildings and a miniature railway.

“Description of site 2.1. The site is located within the Urban Area of Chelmsford and consists of two adjoining parcels of land. The western part of the site is currently an 86-space surface level pay and display car park. To the east of the car park is a single storey l-shaped building which was formerly used by an air training corps community use (ATC building) but has now been demolished. 2.2.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the critical need for temporary housing outweighed the loss of the car park and adjacent community building.

“The proposal would result in the loss of the Meteor Way car park, which is primarily used by the adjacent community uses. The car park is very under-utilised in the day-time and whilst it is acknowledged that it is used more during the evenings and weekends, the information provided as part of the transport statement suggests that it is not heavily used.”

“Overall, the critical need for the development and the very beneficial accommodation that would be provided to house homeless families in urgent need is considered to outweigh the impact of the proposal, which is the loss of the Meteor Way car park and adjacent community building. The application is therefore recommended for approval.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Residents objected to the loss of parking, highway and pedestrian safety, community impacts, design, separation distances and inadequate parking provision.

“Loss of the car park - The car park is used heavily by the adjacent community uses outside of the current charging periods – in evenings and at weekends - The adjacent community uses attract numerous children and have no allocated parking - The car park is heavily used at weekends for Park Run - The loss of the car park will make the miniature railway less attractive to visitors - Without the car park there will be a serious and dangerous conflict between manouvering…”

“Design and Layout - The back to back separation distances are only 15m between buildings which does not comply with Appendix B of the Local Plan - The proposal does not comply with the amenity standards of Appendix B of the Local Plan - The proposed bin stores are not in unobtrusive locations - The proposed parking spaces are insufficient in size - This is a visually unattractive proposal…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local ward member and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping spoke about housing need, community effects and continued engagement.

What members discussed

Members considered access, lighting, parking capacity, the footpath, construction effects, future site use and the balance between community impacts and housing need.

“- The access to the Miniature Railway was maintained with the route through the site, similar to the current crossing of the existing car park that was required. - The nearby Coval Lane Car Park was only five minutes away and access to it would be made easier with the proposed footpath. - Meteor Way was already lit with streetlights, and all of the route to Coval Lane Car Park would be lit. - A turning head to assist with vehicular access, already existed in Meteor Way.”

“- Coval Lane Car Park had plenty of capacity, especially in the evenings and weekends. - The lifespan of the buildings was 15-20 years, and an evaluation of them would normally be carried out at that time, the site would also remain under the control of the City Council for any alternative future uses if required. - A turning head already existed on the site to assist with vehicular movements.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

The committee approved the application in accordance with the report’s conditions and an additional condition requiring disabled parking spaces.

“The Committee heard that the critical need for the development and the greatly beneficial accommodation that would be provided to house homeless families in urgent need, was considered to outweigh the negative effects of the proposal and it had therefore been recommended for approval.”

“Members of the Committee expressed some concern about the impact on the community uses and that it would be important for the Council to continue conversations with them, but that the severe need for the housing could not be ignored and that there would be a significant positive impact on the Housing Crisis, as a result of the application being approved.”

Minutes