Solihull flats plan thrown out over 'too many bins'

Flats for people with learning difficulties were thrown out after councillors heard highways raised safety concerns about the revised plans. The application from Heera Builder to convert a house into four self-contained flats with two-storey side and single-storey rear extensions was back before the latest planning meeting of Solihull Council.

The plan for the flats in Victor Road had been deferred last month by councillors for further information on parking, bin storage and the size of the four units. At the latest meeting planning officer Kim Allen explained in the weeks since the applicant had returned with new plans with Heera proposing a bin store and a three space car park, reduced from four originally.

“This has been assessed,” the officer said. “Highway engineers now raise objections to the proposal. For bin storage, four apartments each require its own refuse bin, recycling bin.

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“That’s eight bins for the flats and another for garden waste - nine bins all together. Highways engineer raises concerns on highways safety - all of those bins being put out in front on bin day.”

The officer said additionally it had been assessed that the scheme failed to provide sufficient living and storage space for the flats when judged by the required national standards. She said due to these reasons officers who had recommended it for approval last month were now recommending the scheme be refused.

Beginning the debate of members chairman of the planning committee, Bob Grinsell, said: “I don’t think we need to go into any great debate apart from (to say) the reasons for our existence has been well served in this application.” The vote was taken with members voting unanimously to reject the application.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported the applicant had said the flats would be for young adults with minor difficulties with some support “as and when required” to provide lessons on how to deal with day-to-day life. But 46 objections were received from residents who raised various concerns including the parking issues in the area and that the proposed development was not suitable for the established family neighbourhood.

Laura McCarthy, the councillor for Elmdon the ward Victor Road is in, said at the June meeting: “Concerns have come not from so-called nimby neighbours. “These are genuine concerns from people with mental health experience who have concerns about the level of supervision planned which could leave vulnerable people open to exploitation.”

The meeting took place at the Civic Suite on August 7.

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