Plans for two houses on site of one in Sutton Coldfield is backed despite objections
Neighbours have objected to plans for two houses on the site of one as the design is “out of character with the area”.
But plans from an applicant – whose address is given as the current site in Le More, Sutton Coldfield – were approved unanimously by councillors on Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday.
The proposals are set to see two new detached, two-storey houses built on a space currently taken up by a single house at the site next to the Four Oaks Conservation Area.
One of the houses is set to have five bedrooms while the second will have four and the site includes a shared driveway to the front as well as a single-storey detached garage.
The overall footprint of the existing house to be demolished is 170 square metres while the two new houses would take up 300sqm between them. The plot itself is approximately 1,500 square metres.
Following a consultation, objections were raised by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council as well as by residents.
Five letters of objection were received as well a petition with 20 signatories, raising concerns including that the “design of the proposed houses is out of character with the area”.
They add the “proposal would have a harmful impact on the character of the Four Oaks Conservation Area” and the proposal represents an “over-development of the site”.
Fears were also raised about “noise and disturbance” as well as an “increase in traffic” during construction.
But a planning officer recommended the proposals for approval ahead of today’s meeting after stating the development is “acceptable with regards to the impact on character”.
They noted the density of the area is low at 12/13 houses per hectare and said the new houses would not bring about a significant increase.
They said: “Some minor visual harm and potential privacy impacts have been identified, but this harm is not considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the overall benefits of the scheme.
“In engaging the titled balance, the provision of good quality housing affords weight and during this assessment process I have found that the overall benefits of the scheme outweigh the harm caused and therefore the application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions.”
