Plans for 25 flats and offices at 195 and 195a Barrack Road in Christchurch are rejected

PLANS for a four-storey block of 25 flats and three offices, with only four parking spaces, on a Christchurch main road have been rejected.

It is the latest chapter in a saga which began nearly two years ago for 195 and 195a Barrack Road, on the northern side of the A35, with the proposal to fit in with BCP Council’s "car-free" approach to apartments.

Currently The Trios pet shop occupies one part of the site formerly occupied by The Laurels nursing home, while Volsen, a flat roofing services and height safety system company, occupies the other. Both are two-storey with parking at the front.

The rejected outline application by Volsen Holdings Ltd and Geejay Ltd was for demolition and a new building of four storeys in total, with the offices and some apartments on the ground floor.

The first, second and third floors would comprise apartments. Two parking spaces were proposed for servicing and delivery purposes, as well as for the office use.

Two disabled spaces and storage for 54 bicycles were also included in the plans.

Planners had accepted that, under the Local Plan, zero car parking was needed for the office and residential uses.

The main reasons for rejection were over the applicants’ failure to provide 40% affordable housing and financial contribution to upgrade a bus stop on the route, and provide a one-metre strip of frontage for a suitable footway.

There was also no offer of mitigation to offset the generation of wastewater, creating a harmful additional phosphate load in the River Avon or for protection of Dorset heathlands.

Planners concluded: “The scheme would not achieve the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable development.”

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