Homes will be built on old Coventry garage site despite 'squeeze' complaint

New three-storey homes will be built on a garage site despite calls for a developer to "think again." The scheme to knock down nine garages for the two homes was described by a local councillor as "trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot," at a meeting today, 20 June.

Cllr Richard Brown (Lab, Cheylesmore) said he understood the city needs the housing and there is a "tilted balance" in favour of the plans. But he added: "I'm here to challenge that, because I think you could go another route."

"Why aren't we building bungalows on this site?" he added. "We're all getting older, there's a demand for that, and I think a couple of bungalows on this site would solve this issue.

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"I think there's a compromise here and I guess what I am saying is, can we not think again and ask the applicant to go back," he told councillors. His comments came after locals hit out at the homes' "looming presence" and raised other concerns in a petition signed by 39 people against the plans.

A neighbour also raised safety fears over the closeness of the nearly 10-metre home to his property boundary, claiming it would be one metre away. He also feared the noise will "vastly reduce" his enjoyment of an outdoor garden area and said he questioned whether overlooking could be a problem.

He added: "If this proposed plan is approved our view will be a large brick wall with cladding which will appear directly on our boundary." But a statement from Citizen Housing said the site suffers from problems including anti-social behaviour and the garages are nearing the end of their "economical lifespan."

The housing is "much-needed" and the three and four-bedroom homes will be available for affordable rent, they added. Officers also recommended the scheme go ahead in a report before the meeting.

Debating the plans, councillors agreed with some of the concerns. Councillor Roger Bailey (Con, Cheylesmore) said: "I just think this is overpowering," and bungalows could fit better there.

Cllr Catherine Miks (Lab, Lower Stoke ) also said it is an "overbuild in this space and said bungalows are needed. Both councillors also raised concerns over the effect on parking in the area if the scheme goes ahead.

But council officers confirmed the separation distances between the homes, at 12 to 15 metres, meet council standards. They said top floor windows would be "obscurely glazed" and they do not expect any extra noise from the homes.

An officer also stressed that they have the scheme before them, and added that in her view bungalows would be out of character for the area and take up more land. But they agreed to a condition preventing a window from being opened below a certain height on the homes.

Councillors voted by 7 to 2 to grant permission for the scheme.

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