Agenda item

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

A) VAUGHAN WAY, HIGHCROSS STREET, BURGESS STREET & CAUSEWAY; NEW SHIRES WEST DEVELOPMENT

Planning Application 20050608 & 20051492

Redevelopment

 

The Director noted that the Panel had previously discussed proposals for the new ‘Shires extension’ in 2004 and earlier in 2005. The current applications were for changes in the design of the new build on Shires Lane and Highcross Street (20050608) and details of the new five storey building to include cinema, restaurant and cafe, bar, retail, financial and professional services (20051492).

 

The Panel felt that the design was difficult to fully appreciate from the submitted plans and suggested that a 3D model could be requested from the applicant. This would help Panel members assess the wider impact on the setting of nearby listed buildings and the High Street Conservation Area.

 

The Panel felt that the ground floor arrangement was not pedestrian friendly and would not entice people to walk alongside it. A ground floor shopping arcade was suggested. They were also unsure what the proposed reflective materials would look like and requested further information on this. Some panel members felt that the design of the building was not adventurous enough and more dramatic angles might make for a more exciting building. The Panel were of the opinion that a strong building was needed on this corner but more thought and articulation was required.

 

The Panel judged that the proposed amendments to the residential block adjacent to the old Grammar School were an improvement on the approved scheme.

 

B) 1-5 MARKET PLACE & 10 HOTEL STREET

Listed Building Consent 20051479, Planning Application 20051478

Internal & external alterations

 

The Director noted that the Panel had previously considered an application for the conversion of the ground floor into two separate shop units with flats on the upper floors, involving the reinstatement of the original party wall and removal of internal details from the former wine lodge, was considered last April. The current proposal was for internal and external alterations in connection with the continued use of the building as a public house.

 

The Panel were fairly happy with the internal changes although there was some concern regarding the loss of the layout which, although not original, did respect the Georgian/Victorian character.

 

The panel questioned the need to widen the external doors to the Jetty and opposed the rooflights on the front elevation roof slope. It was also recommended that the proposed additional flue should be powder coated. They also raised the issue of providing suitable access to the disabled toilets.

 

C) ABBEY PARK ROAD, BOSTON HOUSE

Planning Application 20051300

Change of use, extensions

 

The Director noted that the Panel had previously made observations on a redevelopment scheme on this site involving a new six to eight storey building for 84 flats, swimming pool and gymnasium in the spring of 2003. This current application was for the conversion of the building to 44 flats involving extensions to the front, rear and roof. The proposal included basement car parking and landscaping.

 

The Panel raised no objections to this scheme although it was thought that the rear extension could be more distinctive to contrast more with the original building.

 

D) RATCLIFFE ROAD, ASHLANDS RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME

Planning Application 20051431

Extension

 

The Director said that the application was for a substantial extension to the main residential care home. The proposal would involve the loss of protected trees. A similar scheme was considered by the Panel in December 2004.

 

The panel thought that this was an improvement to the previous scheme but still had reservations about potential tree loss.

 

E) 2-6 GALLOWTREE GATE

Planning Application 20051385

Change of use

 

The Director noted that this building was built for Burtons Tailors who occupied the building until the 1990’s. The current application was for the change of use of the building from retail to financial and professional services. The proposal involved a new shopfront, cash machines and banner signs.

 

The Panel recommended that the original ground floor appearance be reinstated, as the existing and proposed treatment did not reflect the proportions of the upper facades. Also recommended was that all signage should be externally illuminated and should not encroach onto the upper section of exposed stone. It was also felt that banner signs should be refused.

 

F) 4 RUTLAND STREET, WELLINGTON HOTEL

Planning Application 20051424

Change of use

 

The Director said that the application was for the change of use of the upper floors of the former Wellington public house to a hotel. The proposal also involved a six-storey extension to the rear, a two-storey extension over the coach entrance and external alterations. This was a revised scheme to the one the Panel had previously made observations on in April which was subsequently refused.

 

The Panel conceded that this was an improvement on the previous scheme but felt that the design did not integrate well into the surrounding townscape and looked as if it were not specifically designed for this site. The panel members felt that the curved roofs were too proud and aggressive with too much emphasis placed on this element of the design, and thought the overall design was too busy and in direct competition to the surrounding historic buildings.

 

G) 69 MARKET PLACE

Listed Building Consent, Planning Application 20051313

Shopfront, roller shutter

 

The Director said the application was for a new shopfront, roller shutter to the front and condenser unit to the rear of the building.

 

The Panel were opposed to the solid roller shutter.

 

H) 37 GALLOWTREE GATE, MARKET PLACE

Advertisement Consent 20051366

Signs

 

The Director said that the application was for new signage to the Market Place elevation.

 

The panel considered that internally illuminated signs were unacceptable on a listed façade.

 

I) ST MARGARETS CHURCH

Planning Application 20051383

Wall and Statue

 

The Director said that the proposal was for a new wall on which the church notice board would be mounted and the resiting in the church grounds of the statue of St Margaret by Pamela Beresford, originally on the chamfered corner of the Corah factory on Burleys Way.

 

The Panel would like an inscription (if one was not already proposed) to say where the statue came from and who the artist was etc. It was also felt that the boundary wall could be slightly higher to give the statue more head room. The floodlighting of the statue would be welcomed.

 

J) 76-80 LONDON ROAD

Listed Building Consent 20051382

Fire escape

 

The Director said that the application was for a new external fire escape to the rear of the building .

 

The Panel raised no objections.

 

K) 18 SCOTT STREET

Planning Application 20051360

Extension

 

The Director noted that Knighton Fields House dated from c.1860 and was the home of John Johnson the boot merchant until his death in 1877. The gate house of the fronts on to Welford Road. The house now formed part of the school built in the 1930’s when most of the outbuildings were lost. The current application was for a single storey extension to the surviving outbuilding.

 

The Panel questioned the need to site the new building so close to the historic building, especially as there appeared to be ample room elsewhere on the site. If the building had to be sited in this location, the height of the roof should be lowered to be more in keeping with the adjacent outbuilding.

 

L) 65-67 PARK VALE ROAD

Planning Application 20051246

Retention of covered area

 

The noted that the applicant had built a structure made from wood and corrugated plastic enclosing the whole of the rear garden, without the benefit of planning permission. This application was for the retention of the structure.

 

The Panel were of the opinion that the infilling of the entire rear yard was unsightly and detracted from the character of the conservation area and would set an unwelcome precedent if approved. The Panel would support enforcement action.

 

M) 7 STRETTON ROAD

Planning Application 20051399

Change of use

 

The Director said that the application was for a dormer window to the rear of the property and two rooflights to the front of the building.

 

The Panel opposed the rooflights to the front elevation.

 

N) 51 HIGHCROSS STREET, OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Listed Building Consent 20051481

Windows and louvre

 

The Director said that the application was for two new windows and a louvre to the south elevation. The Panel made observations on this proposal at the June meeting.

 

The Panel raised no objections.

 

O) LONDON ROAD, HOLLYBANK COURT

Planning Application 20051491

Three antennae, equipment cabinets

 

The Director said that the application was for three antennae to the roof with equipment cabinets at the ground floor of the block of flats.

 

The Panel accepted that a precedent had already been set with the approval of other aerials on the building, although there was no recollection of these being considered previously.

 

P) 12 ST JOHNS ROAD

Planning Application 20051145

Change of use, dormer extensions

 

The Director said that the application was for the change of use of the house to two self contained flats. The proposal involved two dormer extensions.

 

The Panel felt that the proposed alterations would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the historic building.

 

Q) 2 ALEXANDRA ROAD

Planning Application 20051417

Change of use

 

The Director said that the application was for the conversion of a domestic garage to a self contained flat.

 

The Panel felt that the proposed alterations would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the building and that to create another residential unit would be over development.

 

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

 

R) OXFORD STREET, POLAR BEAR PH

Listed Building Consent 20051401

External alterations

 

S) UPPER CHARNWOOD STREET, CHARNWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Planning Application 20051283

New window

 

T) 32 FREEMENS HOLT

Planning Application 20050767

Extension

 

U) 17 STONEYGATE RAOD

Planning Application 20051333

Extension

 

V) 16 HIGH STREET, 11 SILVER STREET

Planning Application 20051350

Shopfront

 

W) ST PAULS CHURCH, KIRBY ROAD

Listed Building Consent 20051407

Repairs

 

X) 76-80 LONDON ROAD

Planning Application 20051387

Removal of chimney

 

Y) HIGH STREET, UNIT 73 THE SHIRES

Planning Application 200501387

Removal of Chimney

 

Z) 23 LINCOLN STREET

Planning Application 20050931

New windows

 

AA) 13 WEST STREET

Planning Application 20050931

New windows