A4 Vauxhall garage redevelopment sparks row with neighbours

In April plans were officially submitted for the demolition of the former Islington Vauxhall Garage, on the A4 Bath Road into Chippenham.

Cinch Self Storage intends to construct a new purpose-built three-storey facility on the site.

The plans have been controversial with residents living in nearby Hereford Close, Kelso Court, and the surrounding streets, and dozens of comments have been made objecting to the application.

READ MORE: New plans lodged for redevelopment of prominent former car dealership

A CGI of what the new Cinch Self Storage facility could look like from the A4 (Image: Studio Yume)

Chippenham town councillors recommended that Wiltshire Council reject the proposal during a planning committee meeting.

During the meeting, letters from several residents voicing their concerns were read out.

Terry Bayford fears the scheme would create both noise and traffic disruption in the cul-de-sac the site backs onto.

He said: “Access to the premises via Hereford Close, and the potential increase in traffic along a small residential road, I believe is unacceptable.

“The increased traffic will cause major problems, particularly around busy shopping times when overflow from Sainsbury’s car park is seen on Newbury Drive.”

Others are worried that the size and design of the proposed building, which is significantly larger than the current dealership, will make it an “eyesore”.

Samantha Taylor added: “As an immediate neighbour of the proposed storage site I urge you to reject the plan.

“We have to live here, and the plans are having a severe effect on mental health which will only be made worse once the building is built and we have the grey metal wall to look at.

“I will be looking at this from my living room, bedroom and garden, the proposal is too big.”

Town councillors agreed the facility would “impact neighbours in an overly adverse way".

SEE ALSO: Cinch plan to build new storage facility on A4 site in Chippenham

Early designs for the scheme (Image: Cinch Self Storage)

Cllr Conor Melvin said: “My main concern is the proposed size and height of the building which I think would be detrimental to many of the residents.

“I’m here to reflect the views of the residents, as of earlier today there were 44 comments on the portal, and I couldn’t see one in favour.”

Cinch Self Storage insists the facility would meet a high demand amongst locals.

A spokesperson said: “The proposals for a new self-storage facility at Bath Road aim to meet the needs of local residents and businesses alike.

“Self-storage is not only of great benefit for people wishing to store household goods, it is also crucial for the success of small businesses looking to store goods and equipment.

“Our existing facility at Bumpers Farm is very popular and there is a lot of demand in Chippenham which the new site seeks to meet.”

The firm emphasised that traffic and disturbance created by the business would be much lower than other potential uses for the land. 

READ ALSO: Cinch responds to fears over new A4 Chippenham facility

The former garage last year (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesperson added: “Cinch always aims to provide high quality buildings and unlike potential other uses such as retail, restaurants or new homes, which create significant traffic movements and potential loss of privacy from overlooking, a new self-storage facility will be professionally managed, secure, have low intensity use, no overlooking of neighbours and not cause an undue disturbance.

“During the local community consultation, we heard concerns about 24-hour opening and although out of hours visits are minimal, we have reduced the opening times to between 7am and 10pm.

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“We were also asked by local residents to look at the height of the proposed building, which we reduced by almost two metres as well as the length which we reduced by just over five metres.

“It’s very important to us that we are good neighbours and we have indicated to residents adjacent to the site that we would be pleased to work with them on boundary fencing and landscaping."