Barkway Parish Council's reply to NHDC Planning Application (BK2)

​Further to a meeting of Barkway Parish Council held yesterday evening, where the subject planning application was considered, the Parish Council had no objection to this application subject to the following observations and comments. It is asked if these could be taken into consideration and if possible incorporated as conditions if you are mindful to approve this application.
 
  • This is an application for 24 dwellings – it was noted that on site BK2 in the emerging NHDC Local Plan, this site was earmarked for only 20 dwellings. To squeeze an additional 4 dwellings on this area makes for very tightly packed housing and lowering the standard of amenities on site, i.e. garden size and number of parking spaces.
  • NHDC  has acknowledged that there is a climate emergency and the application stated that it had considered energy conservation but there do not appear to be any solar panels being incorporated in the design. Ground/air source heat pumps should be considered, as well as each property having a mandatory electric car charging point.
  • Garages should be car ports and a condition imposed to prevent them being converted to garages/additional accommodation. Thereby to ensure that they are used for parking and not storage, which would create on road parking problems.
  • As the demographic has changed in recent years in Windmill Close, younger people have moved in and parking there has become a real problem, with cars parked up on verges and much congestion.  A survey does need to be carried out to establish if the existing situation would allow the associated new traffic from the development to flow. Looking at the current situation there, this is an important issue to be addressed.  
  • Parking spaces – there must be an increased number of off-road parking spaces provided on site, not only for residents but to allow for visitors as well (plans show no spaces for visitors). Unaddressed this will only exasperate the existing parking problem in Windmill Close. A more generous allowance for parking on this site may lead to ease the parking congestion for Windmill Close residents.
  • Houses designated for rent / shared ownership should stay as such. Can this level of social housing be guaranteed as a condition of granting planning permission?
  • Tidy bin storage areas should be provided within the design of the site.
  • Landscaping guarantees – existing hedgerows should be retained and any landscaping replaced with what is already there. In addition, landscaping should be placed as a buffer between the new development and the Parish Council recreational green space.
  • During the construction phase, provision for contractor parking must be made available within the site and deliveries of materials, etc. to site to be made at the least congested times in Windmill Close. Building works to only be carried out during normal working hours and not on Sundays or bank holidays.
 
 
With thanks and regards,
 
Catharine Toms
Clerk to Barkway Parish Council