Basement flat plans for conservation area refused

Plans to turn the basement of a property in a conservation area in Bradford have been refused on multiple grounds.

The application for four one-bed flats in the basement of 3 to 5 Parkfield Road, Manningham, was rejected after Bradford Council found the heritage statement including in the plan referred to a different building.

Officers said the proposals, by Aliya Bahadur provided an "inadequate level of amenity" for future residents, with not enough parking and very little natural light in some of the flats.

Conservation officers at the authority said changes to the property, which is currently divided into separate homes, have already harmed the St Paul's conservation area.

"The property has an open and somewhat unsightly frontage following removal of several mature trees.

"This is in contrast to the generally well screened and consistent gardens along the road with mature trees and scrubs contributing to the character of the conservation area," they said.

Regarding the heritage statement, officers said it was "totally irrelevant" given it referred to a different property.

If plans had been approved, the basement would have been divided into four flats, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application acknowledged the development would cause harm to the conservation area but said it was "demonstrably outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal".

It argued the plans would provide new residential accommodation and the "enhancement of the long-term viability of the listed building".

But housing standards officers they were concerned about the "the lack of outlook and natural light from windows".

"The proposed plan shows the majority of rooms would benefit from a window, though their position below ground level means they would not provide adequate levels of light or outlook," they said.

Highways officers added the number of flats proposed for the building would require about 10 parking spaces and the existing layout would only allow five cars to safely park.

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