Application approved for new houses in Grendon

Nine extra houses are to be added to a housing development in Grendon after councillors were told there was a demand for smaller properties.

The amended plans for the land off Dairy House Farm, Spon Lane, will now see 129 homes built on the site to the east of the new Bellway estate and a number of the additional two and three-bed properties will face existing houses in Watling Street prompting objections from some of those already living there.

North Warwickshire Borough Council planner Jeff Brown recommended to this week's Monday meeting of the planning board that the variation to the scheme be approved.

He said: "We have had representations form the people in Watling Street basically objecting to the increase in development close to their properties, additional overlooking, additional traffic coming and going in front of them as a result of the additional three houses and disturbance during construction work.

"Our view is that those separation distances are not materially altered and are well within the guidance to which this council operates so in relation to the main proposal to increase the number of units, the recommendation is that it be granted."

The agent for developers, the Vistry Partnership, explained that the addition of the extra dwellings was due to the high demand of two and three-bedroom houses while the larger four-beds which had been originally planned were in less demand.

There was also an objection from Grendon Parish Council who said: "This would mean additional traffic using the single access into the whole estate off Spon Lane and Hastings Road. This therefore increases highway safety risks and the possibility of that access being blocked. There are already safety issues here and there have been 'near misses'."

But members of the planning board were told that there had been no objection from the highways team at Warwickshire County Council and the application was approved.