Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Malcolm Elliott, Peter Swallow, Simon Britton and Councillor Roger Blackmore.

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

Members were asked to declare any interests they had in the business to be discussed on the agenda.

David Smith declared that in respect of Cross Corners, Belgrave: Listed Building Consent 20090238, his company had carried out the Archaeological Impact Assessment.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 February are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting of the Conservation Advisory Panel held on 18 February 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

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

A member of the Panel queried the Planning and Development Control Committee decision to approve the application for Regent College, following the Panel’s recommendation for refusal.

The Panel were informed that the Conservation Officer had been involved in lengthy pre-application discussions on the scheme, and the application was subsequently referred to Planning and Development Control Committee for a final decision.

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

A)  ST NICHOLAS PLACE

Planning Application 20090121

Park and ride

The Director said that the application was to change the existing surface car park to a new park and ride facility. The proposal would involve the loss of some car parking to highway land, new bus shelters, street furniture and signage.

The Panel noted how green the site was and the unusual shape of the site. They wanted to see more details of the proposed scheme before assessing its impact on the conservation area.

The Panel requested more information on this application.

B) SANVEY GATE, NORTHGATE STREET, HIGHCROSS STREET, GREAT CENTRAL STREET & ALL SAINTS' OPEN

Planning Application 20090228

Highway improvements

The Director said that the application was for highway improvements to the junction of the above roads and to All Saints Open.

The Panel noted that the area was suffering from a large number of demolitions and little of the old character survived. They stated that the loss of two more buildings of some architectural character on Northgate Street would merely compound this erosion. They thought that there was plenty of scope to use part of the cleared site on the other side of the road. The Panel noted that All Saints Open was one of the only surviving roads laid out along the Roman grid footprint. They were completely opposed to the widening of the All Saints Open and the proposed works in front of the listed buildings because it would destroy the intimate vista along the road and be detrimental to the setting of the listed buildings. They advised the applicants to re-think the scheme.

The Panel recommended refusal on this application.

C) GRANBY STREET, THE FORMER GRAND HOTEL

Listed Building Consent 20082006

New handrail

The Panel were asked to give their views on an application for a new brass handrail to the front steps.

The Panel raised no objections to the works.

The Panel recommended approval on this application.

D) UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

Planning Application 20082043

Single storey building

The Director said that the application was for a new single storey building to the south of the Sterling and Gown Engineering Building.

The Panel accepted the principle of a building in this location but felt that the building proposed would be detrimental to the setting of the adjacent Engineering Building because of the poor quality design and materials.

The Panel recommended refusal on this application.

E) UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

Planning Application 20090181

Extensions to student union

The Director said that the application was for extensions to the Percy Gee Building. The Panel heard that it was a revised scheme to one that had been discussed by the Panel in October 2008.

The Panel felt that this was an improvement on the previous scheme and raised no objections.

The Panel recommended approval on this application.

F)  ST JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL, EAST AVENUE

Planning Application 20090224

Alterations to main entrance

The Panel were asked to give their views on an application for alterations to the main entrance facing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164.

The Panel is asked to provide any comments on the St Georges Conservation Area review.

The Panel were asked to give their views on the St George’s Conservation Area Review 2008.

The Panel expressed concern that there were two historic buildings, which were located just outside the boundaries of the Conservation Area. They further considered that Wheat Street, which was not part of the Conservation Area, should be included because its character was within the historic character of St George’s Conservation Area.

The Panel recommended that the St George’s Conservation Area should be extended to include Wheat Street.

The Panel is asked to provide any comments on the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area review.

The Panel were asked to give their views on the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area Review 2009.

Officers explained that the Council proposed to exclude certain properties from the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area. A number of houses had fitted UVPC windows and some properties had very little original detail remaining in their windows and doors.  Officers further explained that this proposal was a response to the wishes of residents who appeared to be generally unsupportive of the ethos behind the Conservation Area, as they did not think it necessary.  Although grant assistance was available for timber replacements, some residents had installed UVPC windows without seeking permission.

Members of the Panel expressed concerns over the proposal. Officers explained that there would be a consultation meeting at Wesley Hall Community Centre on 30 March 2009 and members of the Panel were invited to submit their comments on the proposal.

The meeting closed at 6.35 pm.