A PROPOSED supported housing development on the Willows Estate has been withdrawn from today's planning meeting agenda because of concerns about the loss of parking for nearby residents.
The application by HB Community Solutions to build a two-storey block of 16 apartments and a separate building of four bungalows on land off Crosland Road was due to be determined by North East Lincolnshire Council's Planning Committee today.
However, council bosses agreed to defer the item after Councillor Jane Hyldon-King (Lab, Yarborough) who lives on Mersey Way, raised concerns that the development would remove parking spaces used by householders on her street, and the neighbouring streets of Severn Way and Eskdale Way.
The developer which owns the site is now hoping to submit an amended proposal which will retain some parking for residents.
Residents in this area rely on the piece of land at the end of Service Road 24, which bends around from Crosland Road, to park their vehicles. It is also used for access by the emergency services, and by lorries making deliveries to the nearby Co-op store.
But under the original proposals it would have been replaced by the bungalows.
The 16 apartments and 12 car parking spaces will be built on an adjoining site which used to house a playgroup centre.
Although residents had received a letter from the planning department outlining the development, they had discarded it thinking it did not affect them as the site was referred to as Crosland Road.
Councillor Hyldon-King said: "When I told them they were going to lose their parking, they were shocked. Even those who don't have cars rely on their families to come and pick them up and take them out.
Jane's husband Paul King said: "I'm all in favour of disabled people being supported to live independently, but it has got to be done to the benefit of everybody."
Jonathan Wrigley, chief executive of HB Villages, one half of the joint venture behind the project, said: "The issue of parking was a problem we weren't aware of when we bought the site. After it was brought to our attention it was agreed to defer the application to a future meeting, and we are going to make some amendments to the scheme that will allow residents to still have access to their properties."
