The latest plans to build a block of flats on the corner of Cobden Avenue and Bullar Road have been rejected. The site is just up from the old Shell station where a new retail store is on the cards.
The plans, to build flats on the site of the Royal British Legion, were put in by Chandlers Ford developer Highwood Construction, and opposed by many local residents: “It’s such a ridiculous place to put a block of flats like that because of the proximity to the traffic lights,” said Mrs Pat Hoy, who has lived in Bullar Road for over 40 years. “They are saying that it won’t generate any more traffic than the British Legion did, but the Legion was mainly used in the evenings and at weekends. It’s a nightmare there now at peak times - it’s just gridlock at the top of the road. And already parking in Bullar Road is impossible.”
Parking is also at a premium at the Cobden Avenue end of Thorold Road, partly as a result of the busy new health centre, which houses the Bitterne Park GP surgery, pharmacy and primary care trust.
In May, Highwood was refused permission to build a block of 35 flats on the same site, in a building of between three and five storeys, and with 23 car parking spaces. The plans were felt to be an overdevelopment of the site. It was also felt that the planned building would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area and there would be an unacceptable impact on traffic movements at a busy junction. However an appeal has been lodged against this decision, so it’s possible the developer could still get the go-ahead.
A revised application came before the council’s Planning And Rights Of Way Panel on August 15, again to completely redevelop the site, demolishing the existing buildings, and this time to build a block of 33 flats within a part three and part four storey building, with 22 parking spaces.
This application was also refused on similar grounds to the previous one. “They had all these pretty artist’s impressions of it, with very few cars in sight!” commented Mrs Hoy, who is pleased the application was thrown out, but is concerned about the outcome of the appeal, or of similar planning applications in future.
Update: flats are now going ahead after an appeal by the developers to the Secretary of State. Information on the appeal is downloadable from the bottom of this page.
At the old Shell site
Further documentation is available on the council’s website here
See our earlier article about the Shell station here
See also: Second chance to comment on Tesco development