Agenda item

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

A) 109-133 GRANBY STREET

Conservation Area Consent 20061838 Planning Application 20061793

Demolition and Redevelopment

 

The Director said that the application was for the demolition of the row of buildings 109-133 Granby Street and the redevelopment of the site with a seven-storey building with retail and restaurant use on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors. This is a revised application from one considered by the Panel in November 2006.

 

The Panel wasn’t happy with the loss of the existing buildings and in particular it was felt that the Thomas Cook Temperance Hotel building should have its façade retained and restored. Thomas Cook, it was pointed out was very important not only locally but nationally as well. It was considered that the new building was out of scale with the majority of historic buildings within the conservation area. A suggestion of staggering the building back from the second floor (retaining the Thomas Cook façade) so that the building would appear more in keeping with the historic street was recommended as a possible option.

 

B) 111 HIGHCROSS STREET

Planning Application 20070271

Redevelopment

 

The Director said that the application was for the redevelopment of the site currently occupied by a three storey 1980’s building, with a new six-storey building to create ground and part first floor restaurant/café with 21 self-contained flats and associated car parking.

 

The Panel accepted the principle of a new build in this location as the existing building had no redeeming architectural qualities. It was however recommended that the new build should draw on the adjacent church for its colour palette and should be subservient to the church both in scale and appearance which meant not brightly coloured. The design and height of the building should allow existing views of the 12^th century tower to be retained.

 

C) 307 LONDON ROAD, SOUTH LODGE

Planning Application 20070519

Assisted living scheme

 

The Director said that the application was for a new building ranging between two and four storeys in height and the retention and refurbishment of the main body of South Lodge to create 82 assisted living units. The new building was to be attached to the rear of the retained front section of South Lodge; the rear wings and the cottage were to be demolished.

 

The Panel applauded the level of information provided for this proposal and the positive way that the applicants had canvassed local residents. The retention of the main section of the historic house was welcomed. It was however thought that the proposed building was like an enormous maze and ideally it was thought that it would have been nicer to have a series of buildings rather than the one large one but accepted that it was designed this way in order to facilitate efficient management of the facility.

 

D) 34 KNIGHTON DRIVE (LAND ADJACENT)

Planning Application 20070407

New House

 

The Director said that the application was for a new six-bedroom house on the land adjacent to number 34 Knighton Drive.

 

The Panel was happy with the principal of a new house on this location. Both the new sketch scheme and the plan submitted with the application were considered acceptable subject to good materials and attention to detail. It was recommended that a chimney be incorporated into either design. The issue of car parking for the adjacent house (no 34) was also raised, local members believed this was currently serviced by the garage to be incorporated into the new dwelling. It was also suggested that the bow top railings and gates fronting Knighton Drive should be retained.

 

E) 42 SILVER STREET

Listed Building Consent 20070458

Internal works

 

The Director noted that the building comprised a Georgian building fronting Silver Street and a Medieval rear wing which was restored after intervention by the City Council.

 

The Panel had no objections to the proposal providing it was carried out sensitively so as not to affect the historic fabric of the building.

 

F) WESTCOTES DRIVE, UNITED REFORM CHURCH

Planning Application 20070503

Antennae & equipment cabinets

 

The Director said that the application was for antennae on the front and rear elevations with associated equipment cabinets.

 

The Panel again lamented that these types of proposals always appeared to pick out the best buildings in an area. It was not wished to see aerials on either the front or rear elevation and it was suggested either hiding them behind the front left side chimney like feature or look at the adjacent building which was a similar height and architecturally less impressive.

 

G) 2 ST MARTINS

Listed Building Consent 20070379

Change of use

 

The Director noted that the Panel had previously made observations on the change of use of the building to flats/ restaurant with a new build element on several occasions over the last few years. This application was for alterations to extend the existing mezzanine floor.

 

It was explained to the Panel that a site visit had not yet been possible by officers. Therefore the information available at the meeting made it difficult to gauge if this scheme would have a detrimental effect on the building. The Panel deferred commenting on the application until officers had visited the site and a more comprehensive presentation of the proposal could be put together.

 

H) 4-8 HORSEFAIR STREET

Listed Building Consent 20070459

Internal alterations

 

The Director said that the application was for the extension of the existing counter and the formation of a new lobby to the main banking hall. Also, some of the changes to the less sensitive areas of the bank that have undergone modernisation in the past were proposed.

 

The Panel pointed out that this open space was slowly being eroded and filled in which was considered a shame but it was conceded that in order to keep up with modern banking methods some change was inevitable and therefore providing that views of the roof were retained and the work did not damage the historic fabric it was acceptable.

 

I) CRITERION PH, 44 MILLSTONE LANE

Planning Application 20070479

Extensions

 

The Director said that the application was for extensions to the building to create extra space and to form a new access for disabled people.

 

The Panel had some reservations about this scheme. It was thought that the open land to the west of the building could be better used by following the line of the curb to create a more organic design. The Panel also thought that the lack of a decent perspective looking from the proposed entrance end made it difficult to comment further.

 

J) 1 GREY FRIARS

Planning Application 20070602

Lift shaft

 

The Director said that the application was for an external lift shaft to the rear of the building.

 

The Panel gave its reluctant support to the application but commented that more should be done to make the shaft work as part of the existing building design, for example they should continue the stringcourses through the design and the rhythm of the windows.

 

K) 22 WOODBINE AVENUE

Planning Application 20070433

Dormer to rear

 

The Director said that the application was for a new dormer window to the rear roof slope.

 

The Panel accepted the principle of a dormer but felt that this proposal was too big and should be significantly reduced in height.

 

L) 76-80 LONDON ROAD

Planning Application 20070402, Listed Building Consent 20070403

Antennae & equipment cabinet

 

The Director noted that an application for a 3.5 metre flagpole to incorporate three internal antennae, pole mounted dish and equipment cabinet to be located to the roof on the early 20^th Century part of the building to the rear of the Georgian building was considered by the Panel in January. This was a revised scheme.

 

The Panel reluctantly supported the scheme, but requested that a more elegant flag pole style aerial, and to; either position the equipment out of site or re-design the cabinet to make it less prominent.

 

The Panel raised no objection to the following, they were therefore not formally considered.

 

M) TOWERS HOSPITAL, GIPSY LANE

Listed Building Consent 20070453

Flat conversion

 

N) 15 GRANBY STREET

Planning Application 20070373

Alterations to shopfront

 

O) 10 ST MARTINS

Advertisement Consent 20070533

New sign

 

P) 26 WEST STREET

Planning Application 20061686

Replacement rear windows

 

Q) 70 WESTERN ROAD

Planning Application 20070439

Covered Terraces

 

R) 2-4 COLTON STREET

Planning Application 20070357

Change of use