Re: Disgust at overturned appeal decision for planning application refusal: Fairbairn House and associated car park, Ashton Lane, Sale

AS residents of Cranleigh Drive, we are deeply disappointed that ‘planning inspectorate’ inspector has overturned a refusal for planning application given by Trafford Council’s Planning Department.

The inspector spent one day at the site to look at the complex facts of the refusal, and felt ‘in his opinion’ there were no objections and overturned the decision.

We felt totally supported by Trafford Council’s refusal of the planning application to build six 3-storey town houses on the car park of Fairbairn House, a recently converted 80 apartment block (plus 8 roof level additions being built).

Many objections were made by local residents: parking, blocking of light, overlooking adjacent properties, noise pollution and so on. The council agreed, concluding that the planning application was not suitable for the local community.

The Inspector’s report stated no parking issues existed, despite there clearly being a requirement for 134 car spaces for the 88 apartments (46 are 2 bedrooms); in reality only 88 spaces would be left when the houses are built. Where would the extra 55 cars be parked plus visitor’s cars? Not an issue, he seems to think.

In respect of overlooking and blocking of light, the inspector deduces that these are not an issue, despite a shortfall of 1.4m required by planning regulations between the new and existing houses.

If he lived here, would he put up with additional light reduction from the new 3-storey houses as well as the HUGE light blocking ‘Sports Direct Fitness’ building behind our houses?

The new apartment owners of east facing apartments will be completely overlooked by the new houses – their massive office style windows will look directly into the new houses with substantially less than a road width between them. Loss of light and overlooking IS definitely an issue, despite ‘his opinion’.

How can a day visit from someone from outside our community overturn a clearly and carefully considered planning application refusal made by people who know what they are talking about?

Disgusted Cranleigh Drive residents.