PLANS to build a cul-de-sac on a Saltford bungalow’s garden have been approved, after developers agreed to build one fewer house than previously proposed.
A plan to knock down the bungalow at 22 The Tynings and build a cul-de-sac over its “rather large” rear garden was unanimously rejected by councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee in January.
Councillors said the five bungalows the applicant wanted to build would be “over-development.”
But now they have granted planning permission for a revised scheme after the applicant proposed building just four bungalows instead. The decision came down to a single vote.
Speaking for the applicant, town planner Morgan Jones said: “The applicant and the architect have carefully considered the comments made during the assessment of the original application and they have presented this revised proposal, which I hope you will agree addresses the issues that have been raised.”
Neighbours living near the site urged the committee to turn down the plans once again, warning: “Not enough has changed.”
But councillors said the revised scheme was better.
Saltford ward councillor Duncan Hounsell (Liberal Democrat), said: “This is a better application, with the number of proposed dwellings on the site reduced from five to four bungalows, leading to a consequent increase in the proportion of biodiversity net gain that can be achieved on site.”
Planning committee member Fiona Gourley (Bathavon South, Liberal Democrat) said she thought it was an efficient use of space, given the need to build homes.
She added: “The fact that these are bungalows – smaller, affordable, and suitable for older people – I think that that is good.”
But Paul Crossley (Southdown, Liberal Democrat) said he still was not convinced.
He said: “Five was massively over-development, and this is just simply over-development. I think it’s cramming far too much into this space.”
He added: “I think it is trying to take advantage of the government directive that we’ve got to build, build, build, build, build, build.”
Councillors voted 5-4 to grant planning permission.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
