Planning victory for 54 residents who feared new homes would invade privacy

Dozens of residents have won their fight against plans to build houses behind their homes.

Westbourne Construction had applied to build the five properties on land next to Bourne Street, Derry Street and Tweed Street, in Heron Cross.

The plan consisted of four semi-detached homes and one terrace with an access point off the busy Bourne Street.

But the proposal triggered a 54-name petition which raised concerns about parking and privacy.

Now planners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have thrown out the scheme.

Linda Surtees, of Bourne Street, says she has blocked every application to build houses on the land. 

The 69-year-old said: “Whenever they try to put something there we block it because there doesn’t seem to be enough room to build houses there. People also use the footpath there to walk to the football.

“I don’t see how they could fit houses and a parking area on there. Parking is already terrible and having cars coming on and off the site would increase the risk of an accident and a lot of children play in the street.

“It would also be overlooking us all the time, so privacy would be an issue.”

Neighbour Lynn Cotterill, aged 63, said: “We are pleased by the decision because it would have been very awkward having cars pulling in and out of the site and it would have caused a lot of problems. 

“The street is normally full of cars and it would have created a blind spot. This is not a massive site and everything would have been a bit squashed.”

Fellow neighbour Ann Oldfield, aged 34, said: “We’re happy because this development would have been outside my son’s bedroom and we would have been able to look straight into somebody’s house and they would have been able to look into ours.

“I signed the petition because we were mainly concerned about the lack of privacy. I’m worried they’ll try to submit another application. I’m pleased it’s been refused.” 

Susan Presley, aged 55, who also lives on Bourne Street, said: “We signed the petition because it would have been an invasion of our privacy. It would have made us feel so enclosed.

“It would have felt as if they were looking in on us and we would have had no privacy. It’s stupid trying to fit five houses there when it’s such a small space. 

“Parking is already an issue on the street without having more people moving in here, especially with the football. I don’t see why they want to build next to a main road.”

Council planners accepted the privacy concerns.

Their report states: “The proposal would have resulted in the over-development of the site”

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