Plans for nine flats and shop unit on Gourock gap site

Applicant Nauman Chaudry, of Langbank-based Clydesdale Properties Ltd, is seeking permission for a six-storey development on the vacant site at 53 Shore Street.

Nine flats are proposed for the site on floors one to five, with a retail unit on the ground floor.

It’s the fourth application lodged with Inverclyde Council to develop the site, following an original proposal in 2010 – renewed three years later – and a further application in 2016.

A design statement submitted with the formal application says the 2016 application, which was for eight flats rather than nine, and was approved by the local authority in May 2017, is currently live.

The design statement says: “The gap site can be infilled to meet the current high demand for quality residential accommodation.

The proposed development includes nine flats across five floors as well as a ground floor shop unit. (Image: David Bel Architect/Inverclyde Council) “The leading challenge of the development is, however, the topography and current condition of the site, which has deteriorated into a state of considerable overgrowth over a steeply sloping site.

“Due to this, considerable landscaping and the construction of new retaining walls within the garden grounds will be necessary to facilitate a car parking and garden area.”

The design statement, prepared on the applicant’s behalf by his agent, Edinburgh-based architect David Bel, reveals that there are no on-site parking spaces proposed and that “a significantly reduced number of spaces can be accommodated on street adjacent to the site”.

The statement acknowledges that this is fewer than the requirement in the National Road Development Guide, followed by Inverclyde Council, which requires 16 parking spaces for residents, three for visitors and nine for bicycles, but states: “We believe that this is an over-provision for this site’s intended use and location and will be impossible to achieve on-site due to its sloping nature.

“This would render the site's development financially unviable.

“In addition, the site has easy access to both bus and train routes as well as cycling and walking options, which suggest an alternative approach be considered.

Plans to develop this gap site on Shore Street have been lodged with Inverclyde Council. (Image: Google Street View) “Shore Street provides abundant space for on-street non-assigned parking, on both sides of the road.”

Further documents set out plans for two one-bedroom flats on the first floor, two two-bedroom flats on the second, third and fourth floors, and a single two-bedroom flat on the top floor.

The plans also include provision of a lift to provide step-free access to all floors.

The application was published on Inverclyde Council’s planning portal on Monday and has an ‘expiry date’ of Monday, November 4.

The application and accompanying documents can be viewed online at planning.inverclyde.gov.uk by searching for the reference code 24/0225/IC.