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Kevin gets the nod for grand design (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Kevin gets the nod for grand design
8:40am Wednesday 14th October 2009
TV PERSONALITY Kevin McCloud has expressed his excitement at gaining planning permission for a 42 home sustainable development in Swindon.
The Grand Designs presenter told the Adver he felt sick and exhausted ahead of last night’s planning committee meeting at the Civic Offices.
Mr McCloud said he had spent three years working on his proposal to build the homes on land to the rear of Northern Road, Rodbourne.
But his hard work was rewarded when eight out of 12 councillors voted in favour of the proposal, which he had dubbed a “high happiness” concept during the meeting.
Mr McCloud said: “I am immensely relieved — I feel as if I am about to collapse after that.
“I am quite excited. I have spent a huge amount of money and three years working on the project.
“It is a blessed relief — thank you Swindon.”
Mr McCloud had looked on as ward councillors and a local resident objected to the scheme on the grounds of overdevelopment and fears over parking.
Officers had recommended approving the eco-friendly scheme, subject to conditions, but 16 people had submitted written objections ahead of the meeting.
Western ward councillor Des Moffatt told the committee the plan to build a mixture of two storey houses and three storey apartment blocks was not an “appropriate use for this site”
He added: “This application has been largely a PR exercise and spin.”
His sentiments were echoed by fellow ward councillors Jim Grant, who said parking provision was inadequate, and Kevin Small, who said residents of Northern Road and Surrey Road were already suffering from car parking problems.
Jill Little, whose home in Surrey Road backs on to the proposed development, also expressed concerns about drainage and noise and damage to nearby properties during construction work.
But the arguments were countered by Mr McCloud, who said: “This is about providing the fertile ground for a community to grow.
“There is an appetite for this [kind of development] all over Swindon.”
Councillors also considered a proposed car share scheme, the density of the development and a previous application which saw plans for 31 homes on the site approved, before reaching their decision.
Two councillors rejected the proposal while another two abstained.
After hearing their verdict, Mr McCloud said: “It was a test case for Swindon and we won. Thank you Swindon for making that call and being brave.”
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Your Say YourSwindon
fedupagain, Swindon says...
11:00am Wed 14 Oct 09
If it fails lets see how fast Kevin and the Swindon Council Planning department can distance themselves from the development????
spongemum, says...
11:02am Wed 14 Oct 09
When houses were built in the Victorian era the main modes of transport were a horse and cart or the train and accomodating cars and their needs was not a requirement.
Good honest architecture for the 21st century should not be compromised by a sentimentalised version of days long gone.
spongemum, says...
11:10am Wed 14 Oct 09
When houses were built in the Victorian era the main modes of transport were a horse and cart or the train and accomodating cars and their needs was not a requirement.
Good honest architecture for the 21st century should not be compromised by a sentimentalised version of days long gone.
spongemum, says...
11:20am Wed 14 Oct 09
When houses were built in the Victorian era the main modes of transport were a horse and cart or the train and accomodating cars and their needs was not a requirement.
Good honest architecture for the 21st century should not be compromised by a sentimentalised version of days long gone.
I Too, Swindon says...
12:02pm Wed 14 Oct 09
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So Mr MuckClouds ego-friendly plan has been approved ? Hardly surprising is it ? Councillor Phil Young has already publicly stated that SBC are unable to reject plans, based on over-marketing (hotels).
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Despite his ego-boost, of "high-happiness", Mr MuckCloud is nothing more than a pawn for developers.
How anyone could believe that over-developing, and causing congestion, in a communal area, is eco-friendly, defies all logic.
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As for his quotes;-
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“This is about providing the fertile ground for a community to grow. "
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Would that be allotments, eyed up for a concrete replacement?
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“There is an appetite for this all over Swindon.”
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There certainly is. By soul-less developers, that circle Swindon, like vultures, Build more tat, then leave.
The majority of Swindon residents are probably sick of seeing more flats (and hotels), when the centre of town, clearly needs to be the focus of repair.
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“It was a test case for Swindon and we won. Thank you Swindon for making that call and being brave.”
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It was a test case all right. To see how another unrequired development could be shoe horned in, with no resistance from SBC.
Just because SBC did not reject it, does not mean the rest of Swindon has "made that call". We are not "brave". A great percentage of us are fed up with hearing patronising comments like this.
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As for SBC;-
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"Councillors also considered a proposed car share scheme,........"
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This means that they already know, there will not be enough car parking spaces, for this controversial development.
Well don SBC, for being consitently useless. Let's disband this organisation. It seems to be nothing more than an expensive burden on taxpayers and a party planner for developers.
Raef Barnes, Swindon says...
2:54pm Wed 14 Oct 09
All the best Mr McCloud, hope it all works out as planned.
fedupagain, Swindon says...
4:28pm Wed 14 Oct 09
Richmond Rd Resident, swindon says...
6:54pm Wed 14 Oct 09
Finsbury, Swindon says...
10:49pm Wed 14 Oct 09
politicrat, swindon says...
9:16am Thu 15 Oct 09
Or maybe I shouldn't ask...........
talking about density of population, anybody has any idea what Swindon Town centre population density is?
would it comply with the national Planning Policy guidance on town centres planning and most surprising to local policies on sustainability, strategic housing and core strategy and development.
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itsamess, swindon says...
10:46am Wed 14 Oct 09