To the east of the canal corridor are the residential areas of Alfred st/DeVitre St, Bathmill and Freehold. The council’s planning brief for the area recognises this and says that“This area is relatively remote from the City Centre and the Primary Bus Corridor and has a residential emphasis. The Council would not wish to encourage retail, commercial leisure, food and drink uses and other uses likely to attract a lot of people.”
We agree with this and would like to see a residential zone on the eastern side of the site along the canal creating a buffer between the cultural & retail areas and the existing housing. This could include the conversion of Heron Chemical works – though this may prove difficult and it may be practical to demolish and build new accommodation instead.
The City has a chronic shortage of affordable housing both for first time buyers and in the private rented sector. The Council as major landowners of the site should make sure that at least 50% of any housing built addresses this.
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