Site plans may be motoring out of control (From Gazette Series)

Site plans may be motoring out of control

A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for a 13-property development in Wotton-under-Edge has been refused by Stroud District Council planners.

The application for the site of Wotton Motor Centre, Gloucester Street, was submitted for a third time after previous ones had been turned down because of overcrowding.

The plans included the demolition of the showroom, workshop and petrol pumps, to be replaced by a terrace of 12 houses, made up of two and four bedroom properties, and one detached four-bedroom property. The plans included only one parking bay per household.

The application came up against fierce opposition nearby residents and Wotton Town Council.

The town council citing inadequate parking, loss of privacy, detrimental appearance and loss of opportunity to widen Gloucester Street among the problems.

Eighteen residents listed more than 40 reasons why the application should not be granted. Objections included loss of light, increased traffic, no affordable houses and overdevelopment.

Members of the development control committee agreed with the objectors when they meet last week.

Dave Marshall, spokesman for the council, said: "The council does not have a problem with the application in principle. The problem was partly in the design - the council want to see more individual properties - and partly because of the impact on neighbouring properties."