HAVING been slam­med by Forest of Dean planners for poor design, Two Rivers Housing Association has come up with amended design plans for developments at Sling and Hollydean.

The housing association was seeking to redevelop 14 Cornish style pre-cast concrete homes in Sling and 10 similar buildings in Hollydean, to be replaced by a total of 33 new thermally efficient homes.

At the council's Development Control Committee meeting in October, councillors raised a number of concerns in relation to the design of the dwellings, in particular the recessed porches and the visual appearance of the street scene. 

The second was in relation to the formal means of enclosure, the density of the dwellings and smaller garden spaces. 

Angharad James, Two Rivers Housing development and regeneration manager told members at the planning meeting in December that they had understood and addressed their concerns.

She said: "Two Rivers Housing set out at the beginning to ensure that the local residents, most notably those currently living on the site, were fully involved in the design process. 

"We carried out a three stage consultation pro­cess, where residents have had the opportunity to give opinions on how the site should be laid out, the style of the properties and materials used.

"We have taken on board the comments on the recessed porches and have introduced a canopy style porch.  We have redesigned the fenestration to a more traditional look and have introduced further planting in the form of hedges along the front of the properties to soften the street scene." 

Ms James concluded that she felt that the association had listened to, and acted upon all concerns

raised by the Development Control Com­­mittee. 

She added: "Two Rivers Housing have given great consideration to ensure that we can provide the maximum amount of affordable housing on this site, without having a detrimental impact on the existing residents in the area.

"And at Hollydean, the level of provision of affordable housing and the contribution to an offsite play area will both be clearly documented and a benefit to those living nearby."

Having heard the amended plans, the authority's planners gave their blessing for both schemes.