Housing and flats plan refused
DEVELOPER HAD BEEN GIVEN TIME TO REVISE PROPOSALS
to renovate a dilapidated factory site near a town centre into a complex of flats and houses have been refused by councillors.
The proposal for the buildings on Wood Street, in Hinckley, included a range of apartments and houses, and a new two-and-a-half-storey building to replicate a terrace of cottages.
The outline proposal was refused by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, as part of the new buildings that would be constructed facing Wood Street would result in “an unacceptable level of overlooking” for existing properties on the other side of the road.
Councillors previously considered the scheme in December 2020, and deferred the item to give the developer time to address several issues, including parking and the problem with overlooking.
The terrace block in the design was moved back three metres into the site, and a further three parking spaces were added, bringing the total up to 40.
But this was still not enough to satisfy the borough councillors and
The bricks and slates from the demolition will be re-used to build the replacement building
Planning document
secure the green light for the development.
A planning document filed with the application said: “The Victorian factory is in poor condition, making conversion commercially unviable.
“It is proposed to replace this with a new building which copies the scale and proportion of the original. Rebuilding will enable the new building to be eased back slightly from the road, increasing the width of the footpath and thereby improving pedestrian safety and visibility from the site access.
“The reduced individual storey height of the proposed residential use means a third storey can be incorporated without noticeably increasing the overall height. The fenestration will follow the original industrial character.
“The bricks and slates from the demolition will be salvaged and rePLANS used to build the replacement building. Brick detailing will also replicate the original.”
Council leader Stuart Bray said it was a shame the plans had to be refused as the brownfield site near the town centre was ideal for redevelopment.