Residents who struggle to find a car parking space at a new housing development hope planners will turn down 15 supported living apartments on their doorstep. Stroud District Council development control committee is set to approve HB Community Solutions Living's planning application tomorrow night (Monday). But those who live in the new canalside Ebley Wharf development say the area cannot take more homes because it will mean more cars. "The main problem is parking," said resident Steve Parker. "All around Ebley Wharf there are parking problems and this will just add to it." The application is for a three storey building with 15 supported living apartments - it comes with eight parking spaces. Highways officials from Gloucestershire County Council have objected because it could push parking out on to neighbouring streets, and the district council's own housing implementation manager has concerns over whether this type of housing is needed in the area. It is in the parish of Cainscross, one of the most heavily developed in Stroud. The parish council originally supported the plans but raised concerns over 'bland' design and parking. It was originally intended to be a doctors surgery but was sold off. Some residents believe they are being short-changed. "We were told it was going to be a doctors surgery but now we have this company saying it will be for people with learning disabilities - they will need carers there and they will need to park. "There is already a parking problem here. This will just add to it." There have been more than 80 letters of objection to the application, including some from residents who said the area already has enough care facilities. The committee has been advised to grant permission for the scheme. If it gets the go-ahead it would be run by Inclusion Housing and Lifeways on a long lease. In its application, HB Community Solutions Living said the amount of support needed should fall over time. "The overall aim of such supported living arrangements is to increase each person's independence over time, for example by reducing the amount of support needed, trying new things or moving to more independent accommodation," it said. "As has been demonstrated across the country in recent times, purpose-built supported living apartment schemes offer a range of important benefits and enhancements." Alastair Sheehan, development director of HB Villages, said: "The issue of parking has been raised by planners at Stroud and has been dealt with as part of the planning applications. Although it was not requested by the local planning authority, we have also conducted a formal traffic assessment on fully operational supported living schemes with similar amounts of car parking. "This has been forwarded to the local planning authority to provide extra comfort to residents. We can assure the local residents that our other developments have been well received and no such issues with parking have arisen."
