Planners approve four residential units (From Gazette Series)

Planners approve four residential units

PLANNERS have rubber stamped the redevelopment of a Grade Two listed building in Dursley.

The application for Kinver Grange, a former care home, was put before members of Stroud District Council's development control committee on Tuesday.

Two individuals behind the plans - Mr and Mrs Marshall, who own the site - sought to convert the period property into four residential units with communal grounds at the front and rear.

The building, which was built in the late 1700s, will now consist of one three-bedroom property, two four-bedroom properties and a five-bedroom property.

Kinver Grange originally comprised Erwell House, Weavers Cottage and Fearny Cottage and has been used as a care home for the elderly since 1980.

The application had been before the committee for a decision in November but members deferred it so they could visit the site and assess local parking concerns.

Three letters of objection were received, all citing parking as a major concern but the applicants submitted revised plans to allow for an extra six parking spaces.

John Balfe, SDC's principal planning officer for the south of the district, told the committee the revised plans were an acceptable compromise to alleviate concerns.

"They show the entrance being enlarged so that vehicles can enter the site and they provide an access driveway across the site to a car parking area," he said.

"The town council has returned its comments on the plans and they have made no observation on the proposals."

Members agreed to give the green light to the application and said the compromise was a good example of how the planning system could work.

Cllr Brian Marsh (Lib Dem, Dursley) said: "I am glad that everybody has come to a reasonable agreement. It shows that the system does work properly."