Rugby Borough Council: Flats on site of village garage refused by planning chair's casting vote

Plans to demolish a garage and house in Binley Woods to replace it with two apartment blocks have been refused permission by Rugby Borough Council – albeit by the tightest of calls.

Applicants Auto Easy Centre wanted to knock down Binley Woods Service Station, which includes a petrol station, hand car wash, car sales showroom, repair workshop, MOT centre and a car hire centre, to accommodate 28 flats across two buildings.

Original plans for 32 apartments were scaled back in the wake of objections from local MP Mark Pawsey, Warwickshire County Council cabinet member and ward councillor on the borough Heather Timms, the parish council and 30 residents.

The parish council and 10 objectors reiterated their opposition when revised plans came forward for 16 one-bed or studio apartments and 12 units with two bedrooms.

Planning professionals at the borough recommended approval, concluding the development “would result in social and economic benefits as well as environmental benefits”, but while that was supported by half of the 12-strong committee, chair Councillor Tony Gillias (Con, Revel & Binley Woods) had the casting vote to settle the split decision and the application was refused.

Cllr Timms (Con, Revel & Binley Woods), who does not serve on the planning committee but spoke as the local member, was scathing in her assessment.

“This scheme does not add to the overall quality of development on Rugby Road,” she said.

“There is a housing mix but all the properties are terraced, semi-detached or detached, none are flats and none have Juliet balconies visible from the road.

“There is no back garden development on this road, which is what this is by another name. It is an overdevelopment as all housing need has been met in the village, including flats and bungalows. The five-year supply (of land for housing) in the borough is being met.

“This is build them high and build as many as possible with little or no environmental consideration – there is no solar and they are going to put in gas boilers.

“There is also the loss of a business in the village, one that is well used.”

She also cited parking issues and highway safety, including a narrow access for bin collections.

Her list was seized upon by Councillor Toby Lawrence (Conservative, Bilton) who put each reason forward for refusal only to have all but one cut down by the borough’s chief officer for growth and investment Nicola Smith.

She pointed out there were no planning policies to protect the business, that having a five-year land supply was not in itself a valid reason to refuse an individual application and that having no objection from Warwickshire County Council’s highways department meant that parking and road safety concerns would not stack up.

The reasons that could be used were perceived overdevelopment and that the buildings would be out of keeping with the area in terms of height, massing and density.

During the debate, Councillor Richard Harrington (Lab, Benn) did throw an interesting element into the mix.

“I am in two minds,” he admitted. “I see this in my ward all the time, they get put through with no problem at all but when it is in the village, people say ‘Oh my goodness, what’s going on?’

“I do see that it is overdeveloped, there is not enough space there but that street is really strange, I have walked it to deliver leaflets and all the houses are different so for me personally, I think they can be different.”