Shop flats plan rejected over parking and light issues

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Proposals for five new flats above an Ystrad Mynach shop have been rejected, partly because of parking pressures.

The new homes were proposed for the space above the Premier Stores on Bedwlwyn Road.

Applicant Ashishkumar Parekh had sought planning permission for four two-bedroom flats and a single one-bedroom flat above the shop, which also contains a pizza business.

But Caerphilly County Borough Council planning officers said the proposals could lead to “unacceptable pressure” on the area’s on-street parking – and possibly affect road safety.

The five flats would require between five and nine parking spaces, and only one was shown at the rear of the shop, while “surrounding streets are restricted with disabled bays, loading bays, resident permit parking and short-term parking spaces”.

Planning officers described the site as “sustainable” owing to nearby transport links, but said the restricted parking near the shop “would lead to a lack of on-street parking to serve the development”.

The planners did not raise any concerns about the development’s “modern” design, and judged the first-floor flats would not have an “overbearing” impact on existing neighbours.

But they decided the plans fell short of ensuring bedrooms would have “adequate” natural light.

A bedroom in two of the proposed flats would be served by lightwells, and the planners said “as a result, the bedrooms would not be provided with direct natural light and would have no outlook”.

“This is not considered to be an acceptable level of amenity,” they explained.

According to the planners’ report, another reason for refusal was a failure to agree a contributed sum towards affordable housing provision.

No neighbours objected to the proposals during a recent consultation period.