Plans to build flats at A&G Hand Car Wash and Valeting in Barrack Road, Christchurch, are refused

A PLAN to turn a popular car wash in Christchurch into a block of flats has been turned down after BCP Council received 60 letters of objection.

As reported in the A&T, the busy A&G Hand Car Wash and Valeting, in Barrack Road, was proposed by Rother Properties Ltd for demolition to make way for 34 apartments.

In its application the company had claimed there was no need for parking spaces at the flats as they were on a major bus route, and 38 cycle spaces would be provided instead.

But angry residents objected. One said: “To build 34 homes with absolutely no parking spaces would be an absolute nonsense, as would getting rid of a flourishing business.”

Others agreed, with one resident saying: “Thirty-four new dwellings with no parking whatsoever is madness. Parking is already a nightmare in the area and this will only exasperate the situation.

“The offer of 38 cycle spaces in place is ridiculous and most residents will be drivers.”

Another claimed: “Much as the council would like to encourage people to be ‘green’, you just need to look at the example of Barrack Road to see that the number of people that use vehicles far outweigh those that use cycles or public transport.”

There were only four letters of support, with one saying: “The additional residents will bolster nearby businesses, and the lack of parking will hopefully encourage further improvements to cycling and public transport infrastructure in the area that are sorely needed.”

Christchurch Town Council was also against the plan, arguing that the “bulk and scale” of the apartment block would create an “unneighbourly form of development”.

It added that no parking provision would result in flat residents leaving their cars in side streets. It also said the flats were too small.

Rother Properties Ltd’s application claimed the three-storey development would offer “excellent” access to public transport and “enhance the street scene by providing high-quality residential dwellings for a mix of occupiers”.

But in its decision to refuse, BCP Council said there were “strong concerns” with the design of the building, saying images submitted showed it looking “very bulky and not making a positive contribution to the street scene”.

It also said the size of the flats was contrary to planning policy as they were too small and would “result in poor

living conditions for future occupiers.”

It pointed out that there was also no provision of affordable housing on the site.