Cloister Drive Residents Association

Petition objecting to proposal outlined in Planning Application Number: P19/1413 Sandvik office building.

We, the undersigned, object strongly to the proposed application for erection of new office/showroom facility (B1), car parking, landscaping and associated works.

Our objections are based upon the following points:  

1. The proposed office building will have a negative impact upon both the surrounding residential area and the existing nature areas. This development will result in a 3 storey building sited in very close proximity to existing residential properties and surrounding areas of nature as mentioned in the proposal.
2. The height of the proposed office building will negatively impact upon the right to natural daylight for those residential properties already located next to the proposed office building site.
3. The proposal for the office building appears to specify a large quantity of window, including on the rear elevation. This will result in windows being above the tree line impacting upon privacy of those properties nearest the building.
4. Further to point 3, with respect to the windows, during winter months, lighting within the proposed building will result in light pollution, impacting negatively on (the health of) local residents and nature, within the indicated protected area.
5. As this planning application indicates the office building would also be used for showroom purposes, this would facilitate the potential for reduction in security of those residential properties within visual range of the proposed development.
6. This development would not appear to be an essential development, therefore the indication is, that it is being undertaken purely for financial gain with no consideration of its potentially negative ecological and environmental impact.
7. As stated in point 1, relocation of this office building closer to the north eastern boundary, will have a destructive effect upon existing trees and their root structure, which also provide a natural barrier and screening for the residential area with respect to noise and traffic pollution from the A456.
8. Destruction of any of these trees will increase the detrimental effect of the proposed planning application on the environment, increasing the carbon footprint for the development.
9. The planning application indicates that there will be protection of the natural area which provides habitat for a significant amount of wildlife. Relocation of the office building will inevitably encroach upon this habitat.
10. Egress from Cloister Drive is already extremely difficult, in spite of current traffic calming measures. The proposal to build approximately 80 dwellings on the existing Sandvik site will render it almost impossible to exit Cloister Drive.
11. Climate changes have resulted in increased flooding risks for the local river Illey Brook. Further residential development on the Sandvik site will have significant detrimental consequences, not only for local residents, but for vehicles travelling on the A456 and the local athletic club during periods of heavy rainfall.
12. Introduction of more housing along the A456 will increase the risk for car crime due to easy motorway access. There is currently a dearth in policing resources which will only increase with an increase in local population.
13. The footpaths at the rear of Sandvik, between the main bus routes on the A456 and local estates are poorly maintained. Further housing will potentially increase the risk for crime and antisocial behaviour with increased risk to the security of local residents and a negative impact on an already under performing police force.

Our objections are based upon the above concerns and we respectfully request that further consideration is given to our concerns, and evidence of proposals to ameliorate the negative impacts of this development is provided, prior to approval of the proposed planning application.