NEIGHBOURS have objected to plans to build flats on the site of a bungalow in Bramley, raising concerns about the scale of the development and the lack of parking.

Maple Property Services Ltd has returned with plans to erect two blocks of flats following the demolition of Meadow View, a bungalow in Sherfield Road.

The developer was refused permission for two blocks containing four flats per block in February this year, with borough council planners saying the proposed development would “cause harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and would represent an overdevelopment of the site”.

Now, the developers say that changes have been made in its new application – taking onboard comments made by the council in rejecting the previous plans. The number of flats have also been reduced to seven. 

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The developer states in the application: “This is the type of development whilst respecting the locality provides seven new properties which are both affordable and also incorporate private amenity space which is not normally associated with this type of property.

“The provision of affordable dwellings is required and desired in this location and encouraged by central and local government policies. It will make available seven new affordable modern homes with highly sustainable features and low running costs.

“The planning officers’ comments on the previous application have been taken on board and addressed accordingly. We have taken into consideration relevant planning policies during the design process whist maintaining highly sustainable dwellings. The proposal does not affect any neighbour’s amenity; it sits comfortably in a comparably large site in a style that blends well into the character of the locality.”

Maple Property Services has said the new building designs comprise of a one and half storey building at the front and a single-storey dormer-style bungalow at the rear.

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However, the application has garnered 45 objections submitted to the borough council.

Neighbour Emily McQueen said: “The proposed dwellings do not appear in keeping with the scale or character of the neighbourhood at this location. Current neighbouring properties provide family accommodation with gardens. The proposed flats would have an adverse effect on the current street view and the replacement of one single dwelling with 7 dwellings would be an over development of this 0.4 acre plot.”

While Tadley resident Amanda Giles said: "I don’t think this development to provide seven dwellings, instead of the existing one bungalow, would sit comfortably and sympathetically in Sherfield Road.

"Seven units and accompanying cars would result in an increase of noise, disturbance and air and light pollution, particularly for the quiet adjacent roads, and it would generate extra traffic from the proposed new drive/road onto an already congested (due to nearby shop and railway crossing) road."