Retained access point at St Marys Church Parish Centre, Gosport

What was proposed

The application sought removal of a condition requiring closure of the existing access, allowing it to remain for deliveries, collections and related access.

“REMOVAL OF CONDITION 9 OF PLANNING PERMISSION 24/00362/FULL TO ALLOW RETENTION OF EXISTING ACCESS POINT RELATING TO - ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY EXTENSIONS 'ANNEX' AND CANOPIES TO EXISTING HALL, INSTALLATION OF IN-ROOF SOLAR PANELS WITH ASSOCIATED HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING (CONSERVATION AREA) St Marys Church Parish Centre Green Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 2ET”

“The applicant has indicated that they would like to retain the existing access point as the newly constructed car park does not delineate any areas for loading/unloading. The applicant also indicates that they wish to retain the existing dropped kerb and access into the site for refuse and recycling collections, given the position of the refuse storage and the cycle and mobility scooter parking is also in the area accessed from the access, now proposed to be retained.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contains a parish centre, gravelled parking, landscaping and an existing Green Road access within the Alverstoke Conservation Area.

“The application site comprises a rectangular parcel of land on the northern side of Green Road. The site is host to the existing single storey Parish Centre building, a gravelled area used as a car park, with vehicular access from Green Road and areas of soft landscaping around the building. The building has a mix of pitched and flat roofs, and at its closest is set back from the highway by 6.5m and is situated approximately 16m from the east boundary.”

“The site is bounded to the north by properties in Avenue Court, of which number 17 is sited two metres from the common boundary and which has windows at both ground and first floor level that overlook the site. Beyond the red line boundary, to the west, but forming part of the Parish Centre site is an area used for parking, as approved under a previous planning permission (19/00435/FULL).”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions included a replacement parish centre with new access and parking, followed by permission for extensions to the existing hall.

“Planning permission was granted in 2020 for the replacement of the buildings on site and the erection of a new hall and associated facilities. This included a new vehicular access and parking area on the west side of the site, which have been constructed. The necessary Traffic Regulation Order has been undertaken and implemented on Green Road. A subsequent permission was granted in January 2025, under reference 24/00362/FULL for extensions to the existing hall.”

“K.6026 (68/09085/PA) - parish centre including living accommodation with garages and car parking facilities - permitted 08/03/1968 K.6026/1 (94/00220/OUT) - Outline - alterations and extension to existing Parish Centre to include provision of additional car parking - permitted 24.08.1994 99/00184/FULL - erection of single storey extension - permitted 29.10.1999 19/00435/FULL - demolition of existing parish centre and erection of replacement part two-storey parish centre with…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the retained access would not harm neighbours, the conservation area, parking or highway safety when limited by condition.

“Both the original planning permission (19/00435/FULL) under which the new car park and access have been constructed, and the permission (24/00362/FULL) that this application seeks to vary, imposed a condition relating to the closure of the access, but neither were noted as being on grounds relating to the loss of on-street parking.”

“The access is approximately 6m wide and given this, it retention would only result in the loss of one additional on-street space, compared to its removal and the footpath being reinstated. The original gravel car park, serving the hall, only provided 5 car parking spaces, with the newly built car park having 26 spaces. Given this when the hall is in use there is now less demand for on-street parking than previously, accepting that it will be enlarged.”

Officer report

What the speaker said

A speaker said the proposal would provide a drop-off zone, support waste collections and create space for buggies and mobility scooters.

What members discussed

Members recognised the hall’s community benefits and considered that additional car park spaces compensated for spaces lost on the road.

“Members recognised the benefits the proposals would have and that the hall would be beneficial for the local community. All of the spaces provided would be valuable and it was recognised that the spaces lost on the road would be compensated by the additional spaces within the recently constructed car park.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the conditions in the development management report, including limits on use of the access.

“RESOLVED: That application 25/00350/VOC be approved, subject to the conditions in the report of the Head of Development Management.”

Minutes