Plans for new house in Rugby thrown out because council officers could not contact applicant

Councillors at this week’s August 19 planning committee of Rugby Borough Council were told that although work had already started on the Caldecott Street site including digging out a three-story basement, there had been no attempt by the applicant to liaise with officers since the scheme was deferred at a previous meeting in March.

On that occasion, the applicant had disputed the distance given between the proposed property at 1 Caldecott Street and one of the boundaries to the rear of houses in Rose Lane. Councillors had hoped that ongoing talks could resolve the situation.

But at the latest planning meeting, officer Nathan Lowde explained: “Following the committee meeting earlier this year we have made repeated attempts to get in touch with the applicant through phone calls and emails.

"We have even been out on site but the applicant has failed to respond to requests for amended plans or to address the issues raised at the previous committee.”

In his report, Mr Lowde recommended that permission be refused on the grounds that the new property would have an overbearing impact on neighbouring homes.

The plans showed a two-story two-bedroom main house with a single-storey extension and then a separate two-storey building at the end of the garden.

The basement, almost the size of two double-decker buses on top of each other, would have housed services for the main house along with the kitchen and dining area.

Councillors agreed and voted unanimously to reject the plans.

Cllr Neil Sandison (Lib Dem, Eastlands) said: “This has been an ongoing saga over a number of years with no real progress from the applicant on matters raised with him. I certainly agree that this is an overbearing development in terms of Rose Lane.

And Cllr Belinda Garcia (Con, Revel and Binley Woods) added: “I feel so sorry for the people who have to live next door to this property and I think the applicant has been given more than enough time to rectify things.”