DESIGN issues relating to a controversial plan to build three homes on a village social club’s car park has forced the application to be withdrawn.
Rolleston Parish Council members had originally criticised the proposal to develop part of the car park at Rolleston Club, in Burnside, claiming the site should not be a residential development and should instead be retained as an amenity for the village.
Agent Peter Diffey & Associates Ltd, acting on behalf the club, submitted an outline application to East Staffordshire Borough Council to build the three two-storey homes — two semi-detached and one detached property — along with three garages.
It was said during a recent parish council meeting that all Rolleston residents should be made aware of the application, not just direct neighbours of the club.
Parish councillors also suggested that the application site would constitute ‘over-development’.
They also believed there was insufficient vehicle manoeuvring space and access for emergency services vehicles.
Members also said that the site could be used for a parish room, instead of a commercial housing development.
Despite the design statement written by the applicant claiming the proposals met policy requirements which would result in tidying an unused and unkempt part of the car park, the application has still received official criticism.
There are six letters of objection from neighbours on file, and additional objections from Rolleston Civic Trust and the parish council.
A spokesman for the borough council said the application was withdrawn by the applicant because there were issues relating to design.
Parish councillor Beryl Toon said: “We do welcome the withdrawal as it was a split decision about the design.
“The car park should be kept for community purposes.
“Ideally, we would like it kept as a car park, but we would always look at another application with an open mind.”
