Agenda and minutes

BATH LANE, DONISTHORPES

Listed Building Consent 20080080 Planning Application 20072365

Change of use, new development

The special meeting of the Conservation Advisory Panel was held to consider the above application following a site visit and presentation from the applicant on Tuesday 4 March.

The Senior Building Conservation Officer and The Head of Planning Policy and Design were present to show the Panel the presentation disc provided by the applicant along with photographs taken on Tuesday 4March, which provided more details on the proposed extensions and alterations to the listed buildings.

A Member of the Panel questioned why the boiler house could not be kept. The Head of Planning Policy and Design commented that the applicant had stated that if the boiler house were kept, then the overall concept of the design would be compromised. However, the Panel and officers agreed that alternative designs that kept the boiler house and the publicly accessible courtyard around it should be looked into. The Panel felt that the new building in the courtyard could be pulled back accordingly.The Panel were also informed that there was scarring on the roof and that the Boiler House could prove uneconomical to retain. The Panel felt that the scarring was part of the history of the boiler house and was a result of the weathering. They felt that this was not a reason that should be used for the building not to be kept. The Panel expressed concern that English Heritage had not been consulted earlier regarding the removal of the Boiler House.

A Member of the Panel queried whether the chimney on the Boiler House would be restored. The Senior Building Conservation Officer stated that it would be restored and that although it had been taken down, the bricks had been saved.  The Panel felt uneasy regarding the installation of the chimney without the boiler house.

The Panel expressed concern at the removal of two staircases within the Mill. Some Panel members felt that the position of the staircases was important to the industrial heritage of the building, and that if new staircases were necessary these should be installed where the current two staircases lay. It was also felt by the Panel if the two staircases were kept it would give more flexibility than the proposed single staircase in the middle. The Panel were also concerned at how the single staircase would affect the fire escape routes.

The Panel were supportive of the glazed link from the Mill to the hotel, but felt that it should be fully glazed without the rendered section on top. They had no objection to the size or height of the link. They felt the number of exits to the waterside were not necessary and felt the ones to the rear elevation of the Mill should be removed. The Panel emphasized the importance of ensuing that the courtyard, glazed link and waterside were fully accessible. The Panel supported the concept of a raised piazza to avoid the archaeology and draw  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

The meeting closed at 6:34pm.