Plans for new bungalow approved

A new bungalow will be built in a garden despite fears it will add to parking problems.

The plan will see a bungalow built in a garden off Bromyard Terrace next to Henwick Road in Worcester after it was approved by the council’s planning committee at a meeting on Thursday.

A decision was made by councillors – rather than planning officers – at the request of St John’s councillor Richard Udall who feared the council would be “dicing with danger” if it was approved.

Cllr Udall said he was not against building the bungalow but had “serious concerns” about more cars driving through the narrow streets in the area.

The two-bed bungalow would be accessed through a neighbouring dentist’s car park off Bromyard Terrace.

He said the narrow roads were already at overcapacity and “could not take any more.”

“It already has problems, it is a heavily pedestrianised area and I would be very concerned if more vehicle movements are added to the narrow route – especially when it is so popular for pedestrians,” he said.

Cllr Alan Amos said he was against homes being built in back gardens but when his bid to have the plan turned down was put to a vote, it was rejected by the rest of the planning committee.

He said: “What has happened to our policy that we don’t build on green space? Here we are being asked to concrete over another garden. Presumably we just don’t have it anymore.

“I always say that with Worcester if somebody drops a hanky on the ground, somebody will put in an application to build a block of flats on it.”

Cllr Jenny Barnes said she was also concerned by the extra traffic.

“It may only be three more parking spaces but it is yet more overload of the area,” she said during the planning meeting.

“This extra building would take up more green space in an area that is already congested, with a number of properties being put up over the years, and I’m a bit concerned that this may be more garden development, that we do take a slightly negative view on.”