Blake Court, Bridgwater

Paul Basham Associates planning team provided their expertise for this Retirement Living development for 37 units at the former police station, Bridgwater.

The Brief

Paul Basham Associates were instructed by McCarthy & Stone to support a planning application for a Retirement Living development at the former Avon & Somerset police station in Bridgwater. Located on Northgate Road, a busy town centre route and opposite Sedgemoor District Council offices,  there were many parties interested in the development of this site.

Our Approach

The transport team submitted a comprehensive Transport Statement to demonstrate that the proposals would not have a detrimental impact on the local road network. Our comprehensive assessment was accepted by the highways department at Somerset County Council, concurring that the number of trips generated by the development would be less than the existing development and that 27 car parking spaces was acceptable to serve the proposed development.

The existing access point on Northgate Road was maintained and it was demonstrated that the development would generate fewer trips than the existing police station and therefore would improve the safety and capacity of the local road network.

Following grant of planning consent, Paul Basham Associates carried out the Section 278 detailed design work for the removal of the existing service layby and reinstatement of footway across the site frontage, extension of single yellow line parking restrictions on Northgate Road and removal of existing signage and road markings relating to the police station use. Removal of the layby played a key part in creating space and enhancing the entrance feature to Blake Court with hard and soft landscaping.

The Result

We are pleased to have contributed to another successful planning application and delivery of retirement homes for McCarthy & Stone in the South West.