Houses in Crosby Meadows refused planning permission

An application for 18 houses in the Crosby Meadows estate has been rejected by the planning committee.

Concerns were raised by Chair Rob Callister about over-development of the fields as well as the lack of affordable housing and sewage.

The applicant had agreed to pay £20,000 in lieu of not having a full 25 percent of affordable housing allocated in the estate, whilst a condition would’ve been added to pause occupancy until the sewage works in Crosby are completed.

The 18 houses would’ve been in addition to the properties already on the estate.

Whilst committee member Peter Whiteway said the gardens shown on the map didn’t look in line with affordable housing regulations which states they must be seven metres.

Representative for the applicant Mark Pearce said they wouldn’t be any shorter than eight metres.

Mr Pearce also said a bin store would be created and they accepted the sewage condition instead of installing a temporary measure.

The vote was split by four votes to two against the application and it was refused – but this can be appealed.

Reasons for refusal were given as some houses had a close ‘proximity’, a ‘negative’ look on the development with affordable houses next to each other and the sewage pipes falling outside the site boundary.