Agenda item

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

A) BATH LANE, DONISTHORPES

Listed Building Consent 20080080 Planning Application 20072365

Change of use, new development

 

The Director said the application was for the conversion of the existing buildings and an additional new build to provide a 110-bedroom hotel, 280 residential apartments, offices and a restaurant. It was reported that consent for the conversion of the listed buildings to flats with extensions for a total of 153 units and the conversion of the pump house to a restaurant was granted in 2005.

 

The Panel thought that the proposed new build completely overpowered the historic buildings and that the design was outdated. They felt the element next to the cottages was thought to be particularly overpowering. It was agreed that the scale and position of new buildings against the old was awkward and that the proportion looked weak on the tower building.  The Panel also felt that the way the courtyard was placed was insensitive, as it would block the views of the riverside.

 

The Panel stated that they thought that the proposed internal treatment was better for the mill than the conversion into flats but they were opposed to the new doors to the waterside frontage. They stated they did not wish to lose the boiler house, which they considered to be part of the historic character.

 

The Panel agreed to have a site visit to the area and thought further information and discussion was needed.

 

B) 59-59½ HIGHCROSS STREET

Listed Building Consent 20080058 Planning Application 20080056

Change of use, extension

 

The Director said that the application was for the conversion of the existing flats/restaurant use to a restaurant/café. The proposal involved both internal and external alterations. A previous application for the conversion was granted in 2004.

 

The Panel thought this was a good scheme. They stated that they would have preferred to see the whole ground floor rendered and that with the simplicity of the design façade facing Highcross Street it would have been useful to look at the different size of brick, and that they should be laid in a proper bond not just in a plain stretcher.  The Panel noted that Richard Murphy, an architect in Scotland used mirrored sections when joining old with new materials and a similar use might be appropriate here.

 

The Panel recommended approval on this application.

 

C) YMCA, EAST STREET

Listed Building Consent 20080173 Planning Application 20080133

Internal and external alterations

 

The Director said that the application was for alterations to the ground floor windows and entrance doors on East Street and internal alterations.

 

The Panel raised no objections to this application.

 

D) 80 WHARF STREET

Planning Application 20072342

Mixed-use development

 

The Director said that the application was for a new building with 72 one and two bedroom apartments and four retail units with car parking for 15 cars.

 

This application was deferred until the next meeting as some of information on the application was incomplete.

 

E) 9 GOTHAM STREET

Planning Application 20072355

Replacement windows

 

The Director said that the application was for the replacement of the existing windows with double glazed timber sashes to the front and uPVC to the rear.

 

The Panel had some doubt about replicating the fineness of the glazing bars.

They recommend that the existing windows be repaired with secondary glazing.  They stated that the applicant would need to show that they could replicate exactly what was there before double glazed units were allowed. The Panel also expressed concern regarding adding uPVC to the rear.

 

The Panel recommended seeking amendments to this application.

 

F) CRAMANT COTTAGES, 54 KING STREET

Planning Application 20080052

Change of use

 

The Director said that the application was for the change of use of the bar to a day care nursery. It was reported that Cramant Cottages dated from the early 19th century and that after years of slow decay the cottages were converted to a bar in 1994.

 

The Panel raised no objections to this application.

 

G) 7 – 11 NEW WALK

Planning Application 20072372 Listed Building Consent 20072384

Change of use

 

It was reported that the three late Georgian houses were converted to a hostel for the homeless by the City Council at around 1980 and it was stated that the hostel was currently vacant. The Director said that the application was for its conversion back to three houses. The proposal involved some demolition to the rear, three new detached garages and a new vehicular access to the rear alley.

 

The Panel had no objections and welcomed the change back to individual housing.  They commented that the treatment of the front gardens was going to be important and stated their preference for a division to be installed.

 

The Panel recommended approval on this application.

 

H) 9 UPPER BROWN STREET

Planning Application 20080033

Illuminated signs

 

The Director said that the application was for an illuminated 'banner sign' and illuminated menu sign.

 

The Panel raised no objections to this application.

 

I) 362 LONDON ROAD

Planning Application 20080082

Single storey extension to rear    

 

The Director said that the application was for an extension to the rear of the nursing home.

 

The Panel stated that the new extension should be scaled down slightly and the roof pitch altered. They also felt that the window details could be improved. The overall feeling of the Panel was that the proposal could be more dynamic.

 

The Panel recommended seeking amendments to this application.

 

J) 50 RATCLIFFE  ROAD

Planning Application 20072364

Single and two storey extensions

 

The Director said that the application was for a single storey extension to the front and side and a two storey extension to the rear of the house. It was reported that the house dated back to the early 1960s.

 

The Panel thought that the whole proposal would be detrimental to the building and the conservation area. They were particularly opposed to the front extension. The Panel stated that they would accept the proposals to the side and rear but would like a more sympathetic design. They thought the walls and railings to the front would also be detrimental to the character of the conservation area.

 

The Panel recommended refusal on this application.

 

 

K) VICTORIA PARK

Planning Application 20080158

New ball court

 

The Director said that the application was for a new ball court, which would incorporate part of the existing Tennis Courts.

 

The Panel noted that the park was very large and the location of the proposed court would be detrimental to both the Grade II listed De Montfort Hall and more importantly the Grade II listed War Memorial. The Panel recommended that the proposal be located in a less sensitive location.

 

L) TOWER STREET

Planning Application 20080074

Floodlighting

 

The Director said that the application was for floodlighting to the car park. It was commented that old maps had shown that the site had always been undeveloped. It was mentioned that usage of the site as a car park dated back from 1971.

 

The Panel thought that the proposal would not enhance the conservation area and that the lighting columns were too high. They commented that they would accept a lower height for the lighting columns such as half of the current proposal.

 

M) 13 DANESHILL ROAD

Planning Application 20080100

Conversion

 

The Panel made observations on the conversion of the house to two flats in 2004. The Director said that the application was for the conversion to five flats.

 

The Panel repeated their objection from a previous application, that the property should remain a family dwelling.

 

The Panel recommended refusal on the application.

 

N) SPARKENHOE STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL

Planning Application 20080079

Extension

 

The Director said that the application was for an extension to the modern section of the school

 

The Panel raised no objections to this application.

 

O) 75-79 MARKET PLACE

Advertisement Consent 20080200

Signage

 

The Director said that the application was for two halo lit fascia signs and one halo lit projecting sign.

 

The Panel raised no objections to this application.

 

P) 70 CLARENDON PARK ROAD/ 7 PORTLAND ROAD

Planning Permission 20080205

Demolition and extension

 

The Director said that the application was for partial demolition and construction of a two-storey side extension.

 

The Panel had no objections in principle to the application but stated that the new building should not look like a block of flats and should reflect its use as part of the temple.

 

The Panel raised no observations on the following applications, they were therefore not formally considered.

 

Q) 330A LONDON ROAD

Conservation Area Consent 20072381

 

R) 27 HORSEFAIR STREET

Planning Application 20072380

 

S)  HUMBERSTONE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Planning Application 20080032

 

T) 1 MAIN STREET BRAUNSTONE

Listed Building Consent 20080188 & 20080201

 

U) 30 SPRINGFIELD ROAD

Planning Application 20080116

 

V) 8 CHURCH GATE

Planning Application 20080065