Lightmoor Village Design Guide Q&A

Following our Facebook live session yesterday, please see below questions asked and answers provided in relation to the revised Lightmoor Village Design Guide.

Don’t forget there are two drop-in sessions if you’d like to speak to a member of the Estates & Stewardship team regarding the Design Guide, they are on Saturday 19th August from 11am-1pm and Tuesday 22nd August from 5pm until 7pm both at the Oak Tree Community Centre

The revised Design Guide can be seen at https://bvtlightmoorvillage.org.uk/your-home/lightmoor-village-design-guide and don’t forget you have until midnight on 3rd September to complete the on-line survey to give your views.

Q. Do we still have to pay to put in an alteration application? Such as adding a driveway?
A. Yes, you’ll still need to apply via our on-line portal and the application cost covers the administration involved.

Q. I’ve never liked the colour or style of my door, am I going to be able to change it?
A. When the Village was first being built, there was a design code as part of the planning permission, so the covenants for each house was written to ensure the style and colour of each phase of the area was retained. Since the review of the Design Guide, we’ve worked with the sounding group, residents committee and following consultation, new colour palettes have been created and details are available on page 16 of the revised Design Guide, which can be found here. This is still currently a draft version and when it is relaunched, you won’t need to apply to paint your door as long as it fits within the colour pallette, if you are planning to change the design of your door, you will need to go through the standard application process.

Q. Will the changes to the Design Guide increase the fees we have to pay when applying to make an alteration to our home.?

A. The revision to the Design Guide is to ensure residents have a clearly defined guide that ensures the covenants included within their TP1 are followed. The charges for applying for an alteration will remain the same currently but will be reviewed periodically and details can be found at https://www.bvt.org.uk/…/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

Q. Can you please advise why people who live in lawley got a refund for the services that never took place through covid? But people who live in lightmoor haven’t? The people who live on the paddocks have not had any maintenance from Bournville due to Keepmoat finishing the work and barley get the bins on the park emptied?
A. In Lawley following Covid, we received more income than services cost as a result of a reduced service and therefore a refund was provided. In Lightmoor Village the stewardship charge residents pay doesn’t cover all the costs relating to BVT services and as a result BVT cover the shortfall and therefore this is the reason residents haven’t received a refund. Next week, the annual accounts will be published on our website, which will show residents the money that comes in via the community charge and the cost the services provides. As The Paddocks have not been handed over to BVT, responsibility remains with the developers, however as a resident within the village, the stewardship charge is used to provide services across the village including the upkeep of the parks and open spaces as well as the community activities.

Q. Will grass areas be looked at to add in more parking to area to ease the poor parking around the village?
A. One of the priorities for residents is the parks and green spaces, so there is no plans to make any changes to large open spaces. However, in the revised Design Guide, on page 24 there is guidance on creating extra parking on driveways. In addition, we encourage residents to be considerate when parking within the area.

Q. So to change a front door or windows, providing you keep within the guidelines, you do not have to put in application?
A. For clarity, we’d always advise you speak to a member of the estates and stewardship team to ensure you don’t breach any of your covenants, the team are happy to provide advice freely. If you are replacing windows or doors with exactly the same colour, design and materials, you would not need to ask for permission but if you want to change the design or materials, you would have to ask for permission. If you want to change the colour of the door, as long as it within the colour pallette, you won’t need to ask for permission. Please remember this is still a consultation and currently the existing Design Guide is valid and we’ll advise when the new Design Guide comes into effect.

Q. The window on my front door is tiny and allows hardly any light into the front of the house, is there any way I would be allowed to have a slightly larger one, as long as it was in same position etc if I had door changed?
A. You would need to make an application and we always advise to contact us, so that we can go through it together and ensure you follow the guidelines. We understand that more light is required and we will look at each application on a case by case basis. Further details on doors can be found on page 16 of the revised Design Guide but please remember this is still a consultation.

Q. I know you answered the driveway question and I understand that as driveways are on below, but do we still have to ask permission to change grass and slabs in our own back yards? If so why?
A. In the new draft Design Guide, there have been changes made to the rules around back gardens and slabs, please see page 26. This means that permission will not always be required, as always though we advise contacting our estates & stewardship team, as they will be happy to advise. This is still currently a consultation, so the existing rules remain until the launch of the new Design Guide

Q. My hall is so dark the glass in the front door is so small it does not bring enough light into the hall when i clean the floor i have to open the front door to see what i am doing, it would be nice to be able to change to a door with more glass in. You go anywhere in Telford and people have lovely doors in all lovely colours and because you buy a house in lightmoor your not allowed?
A. We understand the issues this can bring and therefore rules in the new design guide have been relaxed (see page 16) . As mentioned this is still in consultation, so current rules remain and we advise contacting us prior to any changes, so we can ensure no breaches are broken.

Q. Are there any plans for additional parking within the village? Not only is the size of the village increasing with more housing being built but also the what were once young families are now families with older teenagers who are driving and the current parking issues are only going to get worse. It’s ok BVT stating to park responsibly but how when the parking is so limited?
A. We understand parking is a emotive issue and we try and support residents in finding solutions, such as making additional space on driveways. In addition, there is the village square car park, the new overflow car park that will have 22 spaces and there are visitor spaces in courtyards. When moving into properties, the number of car spaces should always be a consideration both now and in the future as unfortunately we have no authority over this.

Q. When will the paddocks compound be sorted please
A. The area hasn’t been officially handed over to us, so as soon as we know a timeframe, we will advise residents

Q. Parking definitely needs addressing. Roads are getting dangerous with all the cars. When can we get double yellow lines on the established roads?

A. Once roads are adopted, we can then work with Telford and Wrekin council with their highways department on road safety and enforcement.

Q. We have been here 9 years how long does it take to adopt the roads when the main one outside the school has double yellows? Any other plans to tackle parking?
A. The local authority has to agree to adopt the roads and this is normally after a period of time when the phase has been completed. We work with the local authority as soon as we can when this has been achieved. The yellow lines are outside the school for the safety of the children. With regard to parking, please see our response above.

Q. Am I allowed to put a garage door on yet please to keep my mobility scooter safe?
A. Rules around garage doors and carports have been relaxed, see page 17, all applications will be looked at on a case by case basis. This is still a consultation and current rules remain in place.