TWC/2021/0796 -Erection of an extra care facility containing 70no. affordable self-contained apartments (Use Class C2)

Objection from Newport and District Civic Society
In relation to our comments on the above application submitted in our email of 21st September 2021 below, we have reviewed the amendments to the original application submitted by Bloors under cover of the Bloors letter dated 19th October 2021 and make the following objections :-
1. The amendments seem only to propose changes for the car parking issues and minimal consequent changes to the site landscaping but do not make any comment on the other matters raised in our email of 21st September 2021.
2. The issues on height, size, mass and design of the building and associated communal and public facilities, together with the location of the proposed development at one of the main entrances to Newport remain unanswered. We would remind you that it was the T&W Council who required extensive changes to the extra care facility proposed as part of application W2008/0934. We would ask why the Council on this current application are not raising the same issues as in 2008.
3. In addition to our comments below, we understand that a Team call took place on 10th September 2021 which in part discussed highway issues in the immediate surrounds to the development including the accesses onto Station Road and the A518. On the call from the Council were Cllr David Wright, James Dunn and Valerie Hulme. It is understood that the Council were to respond to the questions raised around 5/6 weeks after the call. The issues raised need to be addressed before the application is taken to the Plans Board but with adequate time to allow review and comment to any response by those on the Team call.

Sent: 21 September 2021 20:51

Subject: TWC/2021/0796 -Erection of an extra care facility containing 70no.affordable self-contained apartments (Use Class C2)

Comment from Newport and District Civic Society

In relation to the height, size, mass and design of the building and associated communal and public facilities plus parking etc, together with the location of the proposed development at one of the entrances to Newport, we would refer you to the changes the Council required for the extra care facility proposed as part of application W2008/0934. For ease of reference of these changes, refer to the summary in Section 7 of the Design and Access Statement-Revision January 2011 in the 2008 application.

Many of the aspects of the building and associated areas for TWC/2021/0796 were contained in the original design for the apartment buildings proposed on the W2008/0934 site to which T&WC Planning Dept. objected and achieved considerable design changes from the applicant.

The objections by T&WC Planning Dept are just as relevant now or even more so given the current actions/proposals from the current government in setting up a design council type body in urging improvements in design standards.

The design not only for the building but also for the courtyard area etc repeat many aspects which T&WC required to be changed in the original 2008 application.

We would urge T&WC Planning Dept to work with the developer to seek significant changes to reflect not only those in Section 7 of the D&A Statement referenced above but also changes for 2021 given concerns for improved design standards not only for the design and layout of the building but also for areas like the courtyard which for most of the year will be in shade given the size/mass of the building as well as quality of enjoyment given the close proximity to the road and car parking area.