East Cambridgeshire’s Planning Committee has this afternoon approved the development of one three-bedroom flat on top of the Deli at 65 High Street in Sutton.

Cllr Mark Inskip and I called the planning application in for determination by the planning committee on the grounds of the parking arrangements for this development.

These effectively double count two existing garages behind the Deli, which have always been connected to the commercial function of the shop, as also being parking places for the new flat. It’s clear that no occupant of the flat will want to park there and risk having to emerge between the parked cars onto the busy high street, and will simply park on the road.

The application was approved by ten votes to one.

This is what I said to the committee this afternoon.

The Deli in Sutton High Street has been an immensely popular institution ever since it opened about seven years ago. It has been a much needed amenity, and its café operation in particular has been greatly valued.

The concerns of local residents about this application are overwhelmingly about parking on this very congested stretch of road. They are supported in this by Sutton Parish Council.

On-street parking on this part of the High Street has increased considerably in recent years, as objectors to this application have noted.

Various developments have removed off-street parking for nearby businesses, and added residential development without corresponding off-street parking space.

As a ward councillor I have received complaints about parking along this stretch of the High Street. Parking enforcement in East Cambridgeshire is the responsibility of the police, who have repeatedly said it is not a priority for them so it does not happen.

The online 101 reporting website for non-urgent offences does not even include the option to report parking offences. The police quite literally do not want to know.

The two garages to the rear of the property pre-date this application, and were attached to the operation of the commercial premises. They should not therefore be double counted as parking provision for the proposed residential dwelling.

There is little turning space at the rear of the Deli, and exiting from the parking provision onto the High Street between the closely parked cars, with very limited visibility, will be difficult and dangerous. It is absolutely obvious that occupants of the proposed flat simply will not use it, and will park on the street.

The officer’s report states at 7.6.2 that the flat will be for someone working full time in the Deli; that this will alleviate parking concerns; and will be secured by condition. However, the proposed condition relates only to occupation of the flat. not to the use of the parking provision. This is not surprising, as such a condition would be unenforceable in practice, but it is hard to see that it makes the parking issues any better.

Finally, the officer report argues at 7.4.4 that there is a ‘public benefit’ in creating one extra dwelling in the High Street, and indeed says at 8.2 that this ‘outweighs’ the concerns of residents and the Parish Council about the parking problems that this will cause.

It is hard to see the overwhelming benefit of one dwelling, when 77 homes are currently being built at the top of Mepal Road in Sutton, with a further 173 applied for, and permission granted for up to 53 dwellings at Garden Close in Sutton.