Plans to install a community defibrillator and bleed kit in Ruislip High Street have been refused by Hillingdon Council.
The proposal was for a standalone frame containing both cabinets on the pavement outside 107 High Street, close to the Nationwide Building Society branch.
Nationwide Building Society was named as the applicant, with the scheme described in planning documents as the “Defib and Bleed Kit Installation Program”.
The application was submitted in June and refused on September 4.
Conservation area concerns
One of the council’s main concerns was the impact the equipment would have on the appearance of the Ruislip Conservation Area.
In its refusal notice, Hillingdon Council said: “The proposed standalone frame with cabinets, by virtue of its size, siting and finish, would appear as a visually intrusive and incongruous addition contributing to increased visual clutter within the street scene, which would fail to integrate appropriately with the historic context of the area.
“The proposal would add unjustified visual clutter to the street, detracting from the visual amenity of the Conservation Area as well as the street scene more generally.”
The council also noted there were already two defibrillators nearby.
It said: “The proposal would result in harm to the significance of a heritage asset, for which the public benefits would be limited, given there are already two defibrillator kits in the immediate vicinity of the application site, which overlap with the proposed development in terms of their catchment and purpose.”
Parking and safety concerns
A second reason for refusal related to the nearby parking bay.
The council said: “The proposed standalone frame with cabinets, by virtue of its size and proximity in relation to the kerb, would obstruct vehicular users of the adjacent parking bay from safely opening vehicle doors without impediment.
“The proposal would hinder the accessibility of an existing parking bay, the knock-on effects of which would result in the deterioration of safety and convenience for road users.”
Planning officers concluded that the proposal would have an “unacceptable impact on highway safety”.
The equipment had been proposed for community use, with planning documents describing it as “life saving equipment”.
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