Plans to build houses on former school site in Warwick given green light

A previous scheme for 148 properties had been thrown out on parking grounds and this remained the key concern for councillors and more than 60 members of the public who had objected to the plans
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Plans have finally been approved to build houses on a problem canalside plot alongside the busy Coventry Road north of Warwick.

Developers Crest Nicholson were given permission for 121 homes on the former Ridgeway School site on Montague Road at the planning committee of Warwick District Council on Tuesday (January 12).

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A previous scheme for 148 properties had been thrown out on parking grounds and this remained the key concern for councillors and more than 60 members of the public who had objected to the plans.

Plans have finally been approved to build houses on a problem canalside plot alongside the busy Coventry Road north of WarwickPlans have finally been approved to build houses on a problem canalside plot alongside the busy Coventry Road north of Warwick
Plans have finally been approved to build houses on a problem canalside plot alongside the busy Coventry Road north of Warwick

Planning officer Helena Obremski explained that while the council’s own parking standards would not be met by the latest scheme, lower standards were acceptable in special circumstances as long as the applicant could justify a lesser need. Instead of the required 307 allocated and visitor spaces there will be just 272 but she pointed out that the highways team at Warwickshire County Council were satisfied with that number.

She added: “The applicant has sought to provide as much parking on site as possible without compromising other elements of the scheme.

“They have demonstrated that the development would generate significantly less parking than the prescribed standard.

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"They have used Census data which states that 122 spaces would be required across the site but the applicant is providing more than double that in terms of allocated spaces.”

Councillors were told about the complexities of the site which would be built around the existing ambulance station and bordered by Montague Road, the busy Coventry Road and the Grand Union canal which also meant that properties on the water’s edge would form part of the canal conservation area.

They also heard from two members of the public who raised concerns about increased traffic on surrounding roads and the lack of privacy with some of the new houses overlooking their rear gardens. Former district council chairman Cllr Stephen Cross also spoke out against the plan on behalf of Warwick District Council.

But councillors were advised that the only reason the previous application was turned down was due to parking issues and that it would be difficult to defend refusal on any other matter this time.

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Ms Obremski added: “I would encourage councillors to focus just on the parking elements.

“There would be a significant number of benefits to be derived from this scheme including enhancements to the canal conservation area, provision of much needed market and affordable housing in a highly sustainable location on a brownfield site and the provision of a high quality centralised area of open space with access to the canal.

“I feel that the scheme we have before us is the right compromise and the right balance.”