Council gives green light for three new dwellings...

THE construction of three dwellings has been given the go ahead in Wetley Rocks despite concern over highway safety.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee gave full approval for the appearance, landscaping and scale in a reserved matters application at their last meeting.

The site on land at the Eastern End of Mill Lane, had previously been given outline approval.

The application, put forward by Mr and Mrs S and M Scalise, was brought before the committee as Mr Scalise is a district councillor.

A report to councillors said: “This is a Reserved Matters application following approval of outline consent for the erection of three dwellings. Approval is sought for the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the development.

“The three dwellings would be set out in a linear form, plot one having its own access drive, with plots two and three sharing an access. Each dwelling would have its own garage, on-site parking and external amenity space to the front and rear of the houses.

“At ground floor level each house would have a study room, utility, WC, living room and open-plan kitchen/ dining/sitting area. At first floor level there would be four bedrooms (master with ensuite) and a separate bathroom. Plot three would be a ‘handed’ layout of plots one and two.”

Cheddleton Parish Council objected on the grounds of highway safety.

The parish council said: “The creation of another entrance close to the junction of an already congested road will increase the risk significantly of causing a serious accident. It’s close to school with the risk of many pedestrians including children.”

Two letters of objection were also received, which stated several reason for refusal, including the loss of parking to provide for the entrances to three new houses will impact considerably and that the car park just before the school only has a few spaces, it is poorly lit and the garages have had a number of break-in’s.

Recommending approval, planning officer Lisa Jackson, said: “Means of access was approved (subject to conditions) at outline stage, therefore this application does not present the opportunity to revisit this matter. This application presents details of layout so it is clear where the proposed parking and turning areas will be located, as well as the garages.

“Each dwelling is proposed to have four bedrooms therefore in accordance with the adopted parking standards, each property should be able to provide three spaces within their respective curtilages. It is clear from the plans that the parking standards can be achieved through the provision of driveways and garages within each plot. Plots one and three would benefit from double garages and plot two would have a single garage, all would have pitched roofs.

“The county highways officer did not raise any objections to the previously approved outline permission and the access points remain the same, a refusal now on highways grounds would not constitute a sound reason for refusal or defence at appeal.”

All 13 members of the planning committee voted for approval.