Two storeys taken off flats plans in Wigford Yard, Lincoln, after residents' protests
Developers of student flats in Wigford Yard say they will take off two storeys from the height of one of their planned buildings following complaints from people living nearby.
Campus Living Villages UK Ltd and Kier Property Investment want to create 104 flats, with a total of 404 bedrooms, over 11, nine and seven storeys.
The scheme incorporates a former pea warehouse and includes shops, learning lounge and classrooms. But residents of Witham Wharf, which has 114 flats over nine floors, are campaigning against the multi-storey plans.
They say the proposed buildings are too tall, will block out vital light and create a "canyon effect", increasing the noise from passing trains.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
Developers listened to the complaints at a meeting on Tuesday, January 22, chaired by Carholme ward councillor Neil Murray. And they said they are now working on a revised plan for the complex to reduce the seven-storey building to five storeys, while removing windows from some common room areas to improve privacy.
In response to the complaints about noise from the residents, acoustic expert Tim Redmore, from the Sharps Redmore Partnership, has come forward to say the development could actually reduce noise.
He wrote in an e-mail to agent Globe Consultants: "The noise at the apartments [Witham Wharf] contains both direct noise from the trains to the apartments and any noise reflected from any surfaces on the Wigford Yard side of the line.
"As reflected distance is much more than direct distance any reflected noise will be less, theoretically 6 decibels less for each doubling of distance.
"So even if there was any reflected noise transmitted to the apartments, it would be 5 to 10 decibels less than existing direct noise.
"Overall concerns regarding an 'acoustic' tunnel effect are unfounded as the new buildings do not form a tunnel.''
Carole Van Hoffelen, 60, an illustrator who lives on the eighth floor of Witham Wharf, overlooking the site, said: "The first noise assessment was based on data from when Witham Wharf was built.
"We are now having the new one looked at and will then pass our findings over to planning. Our indicators are that we are still very right and their assessment is way too basic.
"This isn't a case of 'nimbyism' and we want to see something done with Wigford Yard, but the building they're proposing is just too tall and inappropriate for the space.
"It should be a legacy building, something of quality for our children's children to enjoy."
Comments