PERMISSION has been granted allowing the erection of a self-build home despite concerns the access would exit near to a school.

The application was submitted by Marcus Nason to allow for the demolition of the existing outbuilding and the erection of a self-build dwelling and the formation of a new access on land at Court Drove in Overton.

Concerns were raised that access to the home would be near Overton’s Church of England Primary School.

Despite this, the application said the proposed development would deliver residential development on land, the majority of which is an allocated site within the Overton Neighbourhood Plan and would be in accordance with the borough's land supply requirements.

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Dr Debra Rolfe, spoke against the application at the meeting, she said: “The problem is their proposed access, they do not need it and there is no justifying reason for it. You will have seen that the plot has its own double gates and driveway onto the road, it is currently home to a tree surgery business and we have never seen any problems with their large vehicles going in and out and there is nothing wrong with the existing access.”

The new access road would exit near primary and pre-school which has “just shy of 500 children and staff” attending school every day.

She added: “Parents park everywhere and anyway so why do they want to block the perfectly good driveway they have to exit opposite the primary school? It would pose a risk to large amounts of children every day and if approved you increase the risk of road accidents including children.”

Meanwhile, Lisa Jackson, the planning agent, said the applicant has reconsidered the design of the scheme with a more sustainable solution to meet the climate emergency needs.

Despite concerns, councillors approved the application.