Agenda and minutes

There were apologies from J. Dean, M. Elliot, R. Gill and D. Smith.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

S. Britton declared an interest in Appendix C, Item C, 34 Elms Road.

The Panel is asked to approve the following dates of meetings for the current municipal year.

26 July 2006

30 August 2006

20 September 2006

25 October 2006

22 November 2006

20 December 2006

17 January 2007

14 February 2007

14 March 2007

18 April 2007

16 May 2007 (provisional)

The following dates of meetings were approved by the Panel.

26 July 2006

30 August 2006

20 September 2006

25 October 2006

22 November 2006

17 January 2007

14 February 2007

14 March 2007

18 April 2007

16 May 2007 (provisional)

It was requested that the proposed 20 December meeting be moved. (Subsequent to the meeting this has been moved to 13 December).

All meetings to revert to the start time of 5.15pm.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2006 are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the Panel held on 24 May 2006 were confirmed as a correct record.

Bath Lane – Merlin Works

A number of comments raised by Richard Gill were circulated to the Panel following the presentation received by the developer.

Members of the Panel made a number of further comments.

- There was a query over whether the building was of the right scale for Leicester.

- These were landmark buildings that were proposed which were to be welcomed due to their high legibility and simplicity.

- There were still concerns about the bulk proposed at the lower levels.

- Concerns were expressed about potential traffic problems, although it was noted that a new road layout was proposed.

- It was suggested that the layout of the building needed to be re-balanced to make it sit properly on the site to create a more elegant building; some of the views of the proposal looked too ‘block like’.

- It was noted that a number of proposals for the site had been explored.

- An experiment with a balloon to show the height of the proposed building had indicated its high visibility from various points in the city.

- The previous three tower scheme was considered to look more together.

- It was commented that the quality of materials and detailing were critical for the scheme to work.

- The public realm space on the scheme was welcomed.

Southampton Street

A comment was made that the minutes needed to be clearer in future to demonstrate the firm views of the Panel in certain cases.

This document was attached to the papers for the last meeting. Members of the Panel are invited to give any further comments having had time to consider its contents.

The High Street Conservation Area Character Statement was circulated with agenda for the previous meeting.

The Panel raised no further comments.

It was noted that any further comments could be sent in to officers, but it was requested that this be done as soon as possible.

The Service Director, Planning and Policy submits a report on decisions made by Leicester City Council on planning applications previously considered by the Panel.

The Newarke Bridge

Members of the Panel queried the approval of this application. Officers commented that justification was sought from the applicant and the recommendation was for refusal. The application went to the secretary of state for determination because the applicant was Leicester City Council. English Heritage were convinced by the applicants arguments but delegated authority to the Acting Senior Building Conservation Officer to agree materials. As the concerns of the Panel didn’t match those of English Heritage it wouldn’t be possible to follow those up with the secretary of state.

16 Market Street

Officers commented that Development Control had managed to convince the applicant to maintain the existing shopfront and tone down their corporate colours to make a better contribution to the street scene. Members of the Panel welcomed this.

Memory Lane Wharf

It was queried whether the Panel’s concerns had been addressed. Officers commented that the concerns were regarding the design. It was noted that the number of materials being used in the development would be reduced and that assurances had been received that it would be a quality development.

Other

On another matter it was requested that the order of the columns in the report be amended to reflect the chronological order of events.

The Service Director, Planning and Policy submits a report on planning applications received for consideration by the Panel.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chair, ought, by reason of special circumstances, to be considered urgently.

Members are asked to inform the Chair and Committee Administrator in advance of the meeting if they have urgent business that they wish to be considered.

Granby Street Conservation Area

Officers reported that a conservation area had been recently approved on Granby Street. This was implemented following a request from the Victorian Society in 2005.  It was also hoped that the conservation area status would help to protect the Wellington Hotel which was under threat of demolition. It was noted that the boundary of the area would be reviewed in due course.

Members of the Panel commended the Council for the implementation of the conservation area.

The meeting closed at 7.20pm.