Letter from Glenn Godwin

3:48pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

I REFER to the May 13 report regarding Anne Snelgrove meeting local residents regarding applications for flats at Shelley Street and disillusionment' with the consultation process. While not wishing to comment on the problems of engaging the population in the democratic process or their disillusion in local politics, I would take the opportunity to respond with regard to the planning application that has been made.

I represent Ember Construction, who submitted the application for 21 flats at the end of Shelly Street.

Development of a larger scale to that now proposed was approved in 1982 for a care home scheme and we understand that residents generally accept the principle of this vacant site being developed.

The three week consultation period has been standard practice for many years and more so now that the Government dictates that the council must determine applications within a specified period. However, in this case there have been two previous applications where residents have had their say and which ultimately failed due to time running out for negotiation.

Since the last refusal in February 2006, the applicants have been in lengthy and detailed discussions with officers and consultees to resolve issues previously raised and have reached agreement with officers on the submitted scheme, without prejudice to any decision by the planning committee.

With regard to the traffic and parking issue, the application includes more than the required amount of spaces for the number of apartments and provision of a turning circle at the top of a narrow road to be adopted for the use of all traffic, including municipal and emergency vehicles. With regard to drainage of the site, the application design will not only improve the current position, but by the re-use of grey' water, reduce the overall drainage effect and save water.

Through Councillor Pajak we also arranged to meet representatives of the Residents Association, including Mr Neighbour, several weeks before the application was submitted and provided copies of the plans. In respect of the complicated reports' to which Mr Neighbour refers, one would normally expect these to be assessed by experts on behalf of the council and these have been fully engaged in the pre-application process.

The applicant has significantly modified the proposals from the original 30 flats over a prolonged period of negotiation to the level of minimum viability for a site that most agree needs to be developed.

We feel that the proposals are in keeping with the scale of surrounding housing and has effectively responded to previous objections.

Glenn Godwin Pegasus Planning Group Pegasus House Querns Business Centre Whitworth Road Cirencester

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