Emanuele Alberici, owner of the site at 43 Belmont Road, said the structure could have been built elsewhere – reducing noise and vibration for neighbours during the construction process – and would have used solar panels to heat water.
However, according to a report outlining the Planning Department’s findings, the proposed structure would result in a cramped over-development of the site and would also fail to provide sufficient internal living space.
The application attracted nine letters of objection from nearby residents.
‘This is a very restricted site, which is surrounded on three sides by neighbouring residential properties in very close proximity,’ the report said.
‘The increase in scale is considered to be problematic in terms of its impact on neighbouring outlook and general residential amenity,’ the report said.
‘There are also concerns with regard to the overall standard of new accommodation. The department does not consider that the internal minimum space standard of 33 metres-squared of living space – required for a single-person unit – has been met and the outside amenity space is effectively a passageway through to neighbouring properties.’
