203 Newtown apartment scheme narrowly passed despite noise concerns

The council’s planning committee today narrowly voted to approve the application, despite the noise concerns being raised by the council’s regulatory services.

The development, situated off Hanley Street/Lower Loveday Street/Summer Lane, will consist of a range of one, two and three-bed private rented flats put in place in a four to eight-storey development as well as two ground floor commercial units.

Regulatory services had raised concerns due to the location of the proposed development, with it being situated in a predominantly industrial area

However the application was approved regardless by a single vote, despite councillors such as Councillor Gareth Moore voicing their concerns at the potential noise levels.

“I do share the concerns that regulatory services have raised on this, particularly in terms of the noise impact,” he said.

“An application for this site was refused previously on noise grounds, the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) makes it clear that adjoining occupiers should not be impeded by new developments, in terms of their operation. And I do share the concerns that if this application is approved, it would do that.

“Therefore I do not believe that we should be approving this. I appreciate that a lot of work has gone in to try and make it acceptable in terms of noise, but the only failsafe way of ensuring that there won’t be any noise issues is to not allow the development to take place.

“So I’m afraid I can’t support this application.”

Responding to concerns over noise, a planning officer for the city council said that the proposals to place the bedrooms toward the back of the development meant that residents would not be adversely affected by any noise.

“I think it’s worth noting that, firstly, there’s no objections from neighbouring occupiers, and the factory that was the issue in the previous applications is closed. And the previous operation that was there was a 24-hour operation, so that gave particular problems.

“I think also to draw distinctions between this scheme and the previous applications. So the most noise-sensitive rooms, such as bedrooms, have been moved to the back of the scheme, and also the noise mitigation measures shown for the windows and ventilation and such like have satisfied officers that the planning balance is in favour of this scheme. So therefore that’s where we fetched up.

“We understand regulatory services’ concerns, but we don’t feel that that tips the balance, on the basis of the changes to the proposal and the immediate environment. going forward.”