Chappel: Residents concerned at garage into homes plans (From Gazette)

Chappel: Residents concerned at garage into homes plans

3:42pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Will Lodge

PLANS to replace garages with homes in a Chappel street have met with opposition from residents.

Estuary Housing Association hope to build two three-bedroom and one two-bedroom houses in Swan Grove.

The proposals are part of a Colchester Council backed scheme to convert unused garages and residential parking areas into affordable housing.

But residents close to the Swan Grove site, one of seven for which planning applications have been made, say parking is already a problem.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “At the moment the parking situation up here is terrible.

“Cars park on grass verges and on paths, all over the place.

“I have not got a problem with new buildings but they should find more appropriate places. If there was plenty of parking I would understand.”

Several other residents have objected to the plans online.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “The issues raised are material planning considerations that would be analysed as part of the planning process before any decision is taken. The council also has adopted standards for considering problems such as parking requirements, therefore any application needs to satisfy these policies in order to gain an approval of planning permission.”

“Residents adjacent to the site have already been consulted by the planning service and anyone can comment on the proposals by contacting the planning service or online.”