A planning application for the former Manuplastics site on Kingston Road is being decided by councillors on Thursday 22 February. 

The plans are for 1201 square metres of office space and 99 flats, in 2 blocks that are 7 storeys high at their tallest. The plans contain very limited parking and affordable housing. More details are here and all the documentation and people’s comments can be seen here. There was another very similar planning application made for the site in late 2017, details here, which still seems to be lumbering through the system.

Our comments on the initial 2016 application – that was slightly different when it was published – can be seen here. Our comments on the very similar but separate 2017 application can also be seen here. We feel that the points we made and concerns we raised in both 2016 and 2017 apply to both applications.

In addition, when the planning rules were being rewritten in 2012, we argued for they should be strengthened with regards to the height of buildings, and have done so again recently. We’ve previously challenged the Council to make sure there was proper planning for local services, like school places and GPs, when significant developments like this are proposed and approved.

If you would like to have your say, please:

• Email [email protected] asking to speak at the meeting on Thurday evening (you have to do this by noon on Weds 21, ie tomorrow). There are limited spots.
• You can also email your views on the plans to [email protected] and these will go to the councillors making the decision.

You should include the following:

1. Application reference number: 16/P1208
2. Your name
3. Your address
4. Planning application description: DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND REDEVELOPMENT OF SITE TO PROVIDE OFFICES (1,201 SQ.M – CLASS B1) AND RESIDENTIAL (99 UNITS – CLASS C3) ACCOMDATION IN BUILDINGS OF TWO – SEVEN STOREYS, PROVISION OF CAR PARKING (24 CARS, 12 DISABLED SPACES), CYCLE PARKING (224 SPACES), VEHICLE ACCESS, LANDSCAPING, PLANT AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.

Please do let us know your views