A total of 5 ‘high quality’ houses will be built next to a former train station in St Helens, despite more than 20 objections from the public.
Applicants Stratton and Raben have been granted planning consent to construct 5 homes, classed as ‘market housing’, along with an access road, garages, parking and landscaping on land next to Station House on St Helens’ Station Road.
Concerns raised with their revised plans included the development being out of character, overlooking and loss of privacy, encroachment into a greenfield site and a lack of an identified need for additional high-end and expensive property.
The applicants’ agent, Andrew White Planning Consultancy, previously said the development would make a ‘significant contribution’ to addressing the housing supply shortage.
County Hall’s decision report said the broad principle of new housing development on the site is supported by local plan policy and that the proposal would result in an ‘appropriate and spacious’ layout. It said:
“Third parties have commented that the proposal would result in overlooking and loss of privacy to neighbours to the north, specifically from rooflights and upper floor windows, and that the proposal would be too high and overbearing with additional noise, pollution and disturbance.
“Officers have taken these comments into account, however there are ample separation distances between the proposed and existing dwellings, with the land levels falling away to the south and intervening landscaping which all reduces the impact of the chalet units proposed in the northern section of the site.
“Additionally, the proposed fenestration arrangements can be subject to conditions on obscure glazing for first floor windows on plots one and two, with no harmful overlooking or loss of privacy to existing residents from the dwellings.”
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St Helens resident Clive Spash previously told the council:
“I object to the development due to its ecological impact and encroachment into a greenfield site, as well as being out of character with the village, and causing traffic and access issues.
“Ecological impact is currently poorly addressed in light of the multiple environmental crises. Developing greenfield sites should only be undertaken as a last resort for housing and then if social reasons justify this not just profiteering developments.”
Another local opponent of the scheme, Katie Beiser, said:
“The proposed houses will dominate the area and restrict the views and privacy for the local home owners/residents.
“The access to the development is on a blind corner with poor visibility. There is also the wildlife to consider here, the area is home to many birds and this would have a huge impact on their habitat.”
A total of 18 conditions were attached to the consent for reasons including compensation for loss of habitats through appropriate planting, protecting the character and appearance of the area, preventing damage to trees, highway safety and safeguarding and enhancing biodiversity, habits and protected species.
What happened to the much needed affordable housing!
Lol
Obviously bigger brown envelope.
Scandalous
Why do they say high quality?
is that to bump the price up to the second homeowners who will buy them?
high quality my ass!
“The applicants’ agent, Andrew White Planning Consultancy, previously said the development would make a ‘significant contribution’ to addressing the housing supply shortage.”
would that be for the holiday home market then, as 5 houses would not be significant to the housing shortage …what planet are they on