Plans to convert a former car showroom in a residential street into a garage and MOT center have left local residents worried about constant noise, fumes and traffic problems.
The former Ocean Mini car dealership on Billacombe Road, Plymstock has recently closed and its sales unit has moved to Longbridge Road, Longbridge. The vacant site, which is next to the large Fairway furniture store and across the road from The Anchorage public house, has not been earmarked for a Kwik Fit and STK garage, according to a planning application currently being considered by Plymouth City Council.
The change of use application will also include a “single storey rear extension and associated external improvements to facilitate the occupation and use of the Kwik Fit site”.
READ NEXT:
The application stated that the site “will be used as a motoring center for the sale, supply, storage and fitting of tyres, exhausts, batteries, mufflers, brakes, clutches, radiators, oil filters and steering parts, together with any other motoring parts.” the site will also be used for vehicle servicing and repairs’ such as MOT tests.
Instead of a forecourt full of parked cars that rarely move from the spot, the application explains that the car park will be “formalized to include a total of 13 customer parking spaces (4 relocated and 5 new spaces), including 1 disabled bay.”
In addition, the proposed opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and public holidays, then 8am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
The complainants claimed that the opening hours were “very similar to the former car dealership” and that “the day-to-day operations of Kwik Fit are contained within the building itself”. The applicants state that “therefore, it is considered that the proposed development will have no impact on any nearby sensitive receptors, nor will there be a material change to the effect of the site on the amenity of neighboring uses”.
However, residents in the area – particularly those who will be just yards from the garage – are by no means happy that the working garage and MOT test center will be almost as quiet as a car showroom, and have submitted a number of submissions against the change of use.
One resident claimed: “The noise will be disruptive and not environmentally friendly. The idea of ​​cars parking in nearby streets, many of which don’t have sidewalks, would be dangerous in my opinion with many children using them on their way to and from the hotel. ” school and an accident waiting to happen.”
Another resident said: “A car show would have a relatively low frequency of visitors but potentially high value associated with each visit. While a quick assembly workshop is the opposite, it requires much higher customer traffic due to lower transaction value. While the application talks about parking spaces, there is no indication of an increase in the number of customers every day which could affect road safety and inconvenience local residents.”
Another added: “This area is full of houses, it’s no place for a MOT garage. As mentioned in previous objections, the noise will be horrendous to live with and parking is also an issue. Lots of gardens at the back or against the building and the noise will destroy the use of the gardens during opening hours, that the noise from the STK garage constantly fills me with dread.”
Daniel Steel, Labor councilor for Plymstock Radford, also raised concerns on behalf of residents, noting that while the public protection team had accepted a noise impact assessment “residents and I have significant concerns about the noise the site will generate”.
He also expressed concern about the potential “adverse impact on resident parking if customers are unable to park onsite given the low number of bays on site”. Cllr Steel also eyed a proposal to open “seven days a week” – including public holidays – which would mean residents would have “no relief from noise from the site”.
In its submission, the Environment Agency said it objected to the development, saying the application “does not demonstrate that the risks of pollution of controlled waters are acceptable or can be appropriately managed”.
In addition, the Public Health Administration’s filing also recommends denying the application, saying there are “concerns that the proposed change of use of the site will result in increased noise levels in the surrounding area, which may impact nearby residents.”
Plymouth City Council’s planning department website says the application was received on March 21 this year and the deadline was May 16 – although the expiry date is reported as July 16. Currently, a decision on the application is still pending.
Click here to join PlymouthLive on WhatsApp and we’ll send you the latest news and top stories straight to your phone. We also provide members of our community with special offers, promotions and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, you can read our Privacy Notice.