Plans to build two houses on a narrow Ely street which already has “very limited space for on-street parking” will be discussed next week.
Chris Senior of Cambridge, who runs Live Residential, wants to build two semi-detached cottage-style houses on land formerly belonging to 11 and 13 Bernard Street, Ely.
However the plans, which have been refused before – on the grounds of ‘design, impact on the conservation, residential amenity, parking and highways safety’ – have attracted concern from residents and councillors.
Mr Senior says he has reduced the depth of one of the proposed houses so that they sit on the back edge of the footpath to match the street’s built form.
But parking remains an issue, with the City of Ely Council recommending refusal due to “inadequate parking spaces on the street”.
Residents living at 9, 11 and 16 Bernard Street agree, stating that there isn’t enough room for new houses and that it removes off-street parking numbers 11 and 13 Bernard Street.
They did however agree that the new application is more in keeping with the street scene, and were in favour of the site being developed – but only one house with remaining space for off-road parking.
East Cambridgeshire District Council planning officers have also recommended that the proposals be refused.
Gareth Pritchard, planning officer, said the development will result in “the loss of the historic parking arrangements for numbers 11 and 13 Bernard Street, and fails to provide any parking for the two houses.
“The reduction in parking and introduction of additional homes will significantly increase pressure for on-street parking in the immediate vicinity.
“Bernard Street is a narrow, no-through road, located in a residential area close to the town centre, with very limited space for on-street parking, with the increasing pressure for on-street parking likely to have detrimental impact to highways safety.”
The planning report does however state a number of benefits, if the development was to be approved: “the provision of two additional dwellings to Ely’s housing stock and the positive contribution to the local and wider economy in the short-term through construction work. The site is located closely to Ely town centre, and therefore closely to goods and services. As such, the application is considered to be in a sustainable location”.
A decision is to be made on November 2.
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