Neighbours have warned a new row of houses due to be built on Clevedon‘s seafront will spoil the view at a beauty spot.
The Acorn Property Group is set to start building nine new townhouses on a spot of land at Marine Parade which had been occupied by only one house until now.
The land forms a gap between a row of terraced houses to the left on Marine Parade and another row to the right on Wellington Terrace.
The spot has offered walkers on Marine Parade unrivalled views of Clevedon Pier, the Bristol Channel and Wales.
Residents say the new development will block this view – though the developers have said this will not be the case.
The developer secured planning permission from North Somerset Council for the project last year.
The buildings will have living areas, balconies and terraces at the top of the buildings – offering views out to sea.
The three-bedroom buildings will have a mixture of stone and rendered walls, and will have both pitched and flat roof sections with photovoltaic panels.
There will be off-road parking for 20 vehicles, and new vehicle access will be made at Marine Parade.
The ground level of the buildings falls below Marine Parade. At their highest point, the buildings will be eight metres tall – which means they will be three metres higher than the pavement on the road.
The houses are due to be completed by the summer of 2016 – but prices have not yet been fixed.
Richard Hamilton-Jones, a pensioner who lives next door to the site, said more than 500 residents had protested the development during the planning process.
He said: “It is a unique place. There is a stunning view all the way down the Bristol Channel – you can see Steep Holm and Flat Holm and you can see the pier. All that is going to disappear.
“The new houses are going to have a high roof line – you won’t even see the Welsh coast line.
“We are not just objecting because we are neighbours. We already live in a stunning place and we will still have stunning views. We are speaking on behalf of hundreds in the area. Lots of people come to marvel at that view.”
Mr Hamilton-Jones, who has lived at Edgarley Court in Wellington Terrace for six years, said he had complained to the Local Government Ombudsmen after planning consent was granted.
He said: “When people say the final thing, they will say ‘why weren’t people complaining about it?’ – but we were.”
In its comments on the planning application, Clevedon Civic Society said the development would have a detrimental impact on the adjacent Listed Pier and Conservation Area.
English Heritage said: “Whilst the blocking of the views from Marine Drive and Parade will have an adverse impact on the setting of the pier, the harm will be less than substantial.”
Clevedon Town Council’s planning committee recommended the plans were refused, but North Somerset Council approved the application.
Acorn are now in final negotiations with project’s contractor and plan to start work in the next two months.
Dave Gittins, construction manager at Acorns, said: “The houses are not blocking the view. We are trying to keep it in common architecturally with what is happening next door. We are still using an element of stone. There will also be earth tone renders and a mix of pitched roofs and flat roofs.
“Part of the works includes clearance of trees projecting over the road. If anything, the view is going to be improved from certain angles.
“Acorn Bristol are excited and very keen to move forward with this development and continue to uphold the Acorn philosophy by consistently delivering on design and high quality property developments.”
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 4]