Worcester City Council’s planning committee gave the green light to EGM Real Estate’s plan for a four-storey apartment block on the old Co-op staff car park in Henwick Road.
But councillors had concerns that not all of the flats will have parking spaces, leaving residents and visitors to park on surrounding roads.
Planning officers had recommended approval of the plans despite there being a shortfall of 10 parking spaces compared to planning policy.
CAR PARK: The site is currently empty (Image: Boughton Butler)
Dan Stiff of architects Boughton Butler said a survey had found nearby roads have the capacity to make up for the shortfall in parking spaces.
But Cllr Richard Udall asked: “Where the hell are those spaces?”
“This is a gross overdevelopment of the site,” he said. “I can’t see where people are going to park – this is just going to cause chaos and stress.
“Clearly this site needs to be developed, it can’t stay as it is.”
But he said it would have a “devastating impact” on nearby properties such as Merrick House.
Cllr Alan Amos said: “I’m not against the principle of this site being used for residential [purposes] but this is too big. And highways have used absurd excuses to ignore their own policy.”
He told the agent: “You’re proposing a cycle space for every bedroom but not a space for every car.”
Cllr Ed Kimberley said St John’s is “not an area replete with overspill parking”, adding: “Where will visitors, guests and delivery drivers be expected to park?”
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Councillors also questioned the limited amount of amenity space at the development.
Planning officer Paul Round said there is a communal garden in the layout and the development is five minutes from Cripplegate Park. He also said delivery drivers will be able to park on the site.
“It is in a sustainable location,” he added, “you can get to Sainsbury’s easily and it will provide affordable housing.”
He had told committee members that Worcester can no longer demonstrate a five-year housing supply and so government advice is that it should approve housing plans unless “the harms significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.
Chair Karen Lewing said it showed how the committee was “constrained by the rules of planning”.