Flats for Cirencester print works site (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Flats for Cirencester print works site

A PRINTING works site in Victoria Road, Cirencester, is to be redeveloped into flats.

The decision was made by councillors at Cotswold District Council's planning committee meeting last week.

Nine two-bedroom flats are to be built at the Earle & Ludlow site, along with associated parking and landscaping.

Walls are to be built with stone and/or facing brick while the roof is to be Welsh slate or similar.

The plans only include six car parking spaces for the nine flats.

Letters of objection sent in voiced concerns that it was over-development of the site and would lead to an increase in vehicle movements along the narrow access land which is heavily used by pedestrians, especially school children attending the nearby infants school.

Cirencester Town Council objected for similar reasons.

The planning report states: 'Notwithstanding its current usage, it might reasonably be considered that an unrestricted general industrial use of the application site has the potential to generate a materially greater amount of vehicular movements than the proposed residential development.'

It goes on to say 'The adopted Local Plan suggests a maximum of two spaces per unit... however, the standards also require a lower provision in town centres and other areas accessible by a choice of means of transport (eg public transport) as would demonstrably be the case in this instance.'

It adds: 'The two and a half storey height of the proposed buildings acceptably reflects the scale of the existing neighbouring terrace.'

Overall councillors voted in favour of the scheme but some also expressed concern.

Cllr Peter Martin said: "The current proposal is over-development. "I consider it bad planning, a classic case of planning for greed rather than planning for need."

Cllr Christine Eatwell said: "I would like to see a much smaller scheme." The application was delegated to officers to make minor amendments before building work starts.

Earle and Ludlow is relocating to a larger site in the town.

* For more news from the planning meeting see Thursday's Standard.