CALLS are being made to change the county council’s stance on residential parking in Worcester after councillors “reluctantly” approved plans to build five new flats in St John’s.
Members of Worcester City Council’s planning committee granted permission for Broadheath Construction to create a two-and-a-half storey building on Blakefield Road at a meeting last Thursday (November 13).
This development would feature a one and two bedroom apartment, while the scheme also includes the creation of two one-bedroom flats at the existing home.
However, Coun Chris Cawthorne was among a number of councillors to speak out against the number of car parking spaces made available by the developer.
“I went to look at this site on a Sunday morning and I could not find anywhere to park my car, so in my view that road has quite enough cars on it already,” she said.
“This will have five households and the developer is providing four parking spaces and of course that does not take into account visitors.”
Coun Roger Knight and Coun David Wilkinson also expressed concerns about parking, but Bob Pender, the county’s highways team, warned them against refusing it.
He said the developer’s plans were consistent with the minimum car parking standard set down in the City of Worcester Local Plan despite criticising the policy himself.
“I am living for the day when we have a chance to have a constructively sensible debate on off-street parking for residential development in light of current levels of car ownership,” he said.
“I can’t wait because the existing policies are flawed and that’s my personal view.”
Coun Wilkinson and Coun Roger Berry said they had no alternative but to “reluctantly support it” but Coun Knight insisted changes needed to happen.
“I think it is an overdevelopment and I would urge the officers concerned to press for change,” he said.
“We need to update these polices and bring them into line with what we are dealing with today. We cannot keep passing things through when we have got out-dated and unresponsive policies.”
Speaking after the meeting, a spokeswoman from Worcestershire County Council said: “The county council highways recognises changing patterns of car ownership and usage.
“The Highways Design Guide, offers guidance for developers and planners on future developments. This documents needs to reflect the changes and a review is underway.”
