Opposed: Home in Kenley to be replaced with 19 flats

There is an application to demolish a Kenley family home to replace it with a block of flats. You can read my official opposition to the application below. Please do share this so that as many people as possible are aware of the planning mess in our area.

Re: 20/05075/FUL 

Full planning application for the demolition of a single-family dwelling and erection of one 3 and 4 storey block, containing 2 x 4 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedroom semi-detached Houses and 2 x 1-bedroom, 8 x 2 bedroom and 5 x 3 bedroom Apartments in total 19 Units with associated access, 23 parking spaces, cycle storage and refuse store at 1 Kearton Close, Kenley, CR8 5EN. 

1 Kearton Close Kenley CR8 5EN 

I am writing to lodge my objection to the above planning application. My reasons are as follows:

  1. The proposal for 19 new homes on this site would be an overdevelopment due to its size, footprint, height, layout, density and massing and would be detrimental to the street scene and local verdant context
  2. The contemporary design and type of the three/four storey buildings proposed to sit on this site would be completely out of character with the more traditional style one/wo storey properties immediately adjacent to the site and will be harmful to the street-scene
  3. The proposed yellow brick and zinc roof would completely fail to respect the existing homes, which are predominantly rendered properties with clay tile roof, and is at odds with the semi-rural setting
  4. The proposed scheme would fail to respect the development pattern and siting of Kearton Close properties, which are individual houses on individual plots. Each has a generous back garden and addresses the road with a front garden and driveway
  5. The proposed density would be completely out of character with the low density local surroundings
  6. There would be a detrimental impact on the open sylvan character of Kearton Close; this area of Kenley is highly valued for its substantial trees and landscaping
  7. There would be a detrimental impact on the amenities of adjoining occupiers due to overlooking
  8. Concreting over of garden space and the loss of mature landscaping, natural vegetation and natural habitat – the proposal would fail to respect the leafy character of the surrounding area
  9. Loss of numerous mature trees, shrubs and hedges on the site and concerns that many being retained will be severely compromised by the development
  10. Inadequate car parking arrangements for residents and visitors at this PTAL 0 level site
  11. Lack of consideration of any impact on local infrastructure: eg schools, GPs, drainage

This is just one example of the planning madness that has been going on in our area. The Labour run Council, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Brick by Brick, have a policy of destroying family homes to build flats in the south of the borough. I will continue to oppose these applications. You can keep up to date with this and other issues at chrisphilp.com