Colchester Albert Street housing plans put on hold

Colchester Council's planning committee met to discuss proposals for a site off land east of Albert Street.

Housebuilder Colver Developments had submitted plans earlier this year to build four three-bed houses and four two-bed apartments on the empty site which is currently in an overgrown state.

The four houses would have private rear gardens, with a communal space available, and they would have individual balconies.

Meeting - Town Hall (Image: Mike Quinn)

In 2023, plans were put forward to build nine properties, but there were fierce objections.

The plans were rejected by the council due to concerns over vehicle access to the site.

During the meeting, resident Andrew Jarvis spoke against the development.

Street - another view of Albert Street (Image: Google Maps)

He said: “There have been numerous objections to the four applications which have been submitted up to now.

“The most important question that needs to be answered for the residents is, given the inevitable overflow of parking….

“Given we know there is 1.5 cars per dwelling per the national average, where will these excess cars go? There is literally no space for them.”

“Albert street 12 to 15 will have their garden sunlight obstructed by the development.”

Castle ward councillor and planning committee member Mark Goacher brought the application before the committee due to the “significant concerns expressed by residents.”

Councillor Mark Goacher

He said: “My concern is not so much about it being developed, it is the nature of the design of the development and its imposing nature on the residents and the accessibility and the big concern about the parking issue.

“The area is jam-packed, so where are these vehicles going to park?”

The planning committee voted to defer a decision.

The council has also asked the housebuilder to make changes to the plans, including replacing a visitor parking space with a disabled parking space.

The parking space area must also be expanded “where possible”.