Agenda and minutes

D. Fountain (LSA)

None.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th September 2024 are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Panel agreed the notes.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report on planning applications received for consideration by the Panel.

A) 101-107 Ratcliffe Road, former Mary Gee Houses Halls of Residence

Planning Applications 20241345

Demolition of existing buildings; construction of four x three storey buildings to provide 94 retirement apartments with care (38 x 1 bed, 45 x 2 bed, 11 x 3 bed) (Class C2); communal facilities; associated landscaping, access roads, car parking and services.

Panel members welcomed the most recent application and agreed that it represented an improvement over the previously presented proposals. Members felt the site plan and massing were now more appropriate for the area. They agreed the breaking down of massing into four distinct blocks was a positive change, adding the central pedestrian path through the site worked well. Members discussed the elevations fronting Ratcliffe Road, feeling the revised blocks would sit better within the geometry and rhythm of the existing streetscene. They also commented on the dispersal of parking provisions throughout the site, agreeing this was better suited.

However, they further agreed there remained areas of the proposals that would benefit from improvement. While some positive steps had been made on the massing, members agreed the site continues to appear dense. Some members wished to see a greater variety of materials while others felt the architectural detailing lacked refinement. They agreed the gables could be a signature of the development if finished to a high standard and discussed the merits of introducing a second gable type to the site. They felt some harmonious diversity would elevate them as features. Concern was expressed that the upper elements of gables was overly dominant and lacked context, with the potential of carrying the roof form across with overhanging eaves suggested as a solution. 

Members also wished to see greater clarity and information on the proposed materials. Some members queried whether two different tones of red brick were being proposed and wanted greater clarity on the slates. They felt there was insufficient information to judge the quality of the proposed materials at this stage and requested further detail in this respect.

SEEK AMENDMENTS

B) 55 Linden Street, Linden House

Planning Application 20241242

Demolition of single storey element at rear; two-storey extension at rear; alterations; retrospective change of use to place of worship (Class F1)

The Panel were pleased to see the scheme of repairs proposed for the building and were generally supportive of the proposed rear extension. They welcomed the replacement of the existing uPVC windows in the locally listed building, although noted it was unfortunate that more authentic Crittall windows were not specified for reinstatement. Some members expressed a desire to see a visual break/shadow gap between the host building and new extension, feeling the current arrangement where the new roof breaks through the eaves line as an untidy detail. They felt a narrow step down in this area would help resolve this transition while also introducing a level of separation between old and new. 

Other small queries about design were raised. Some member wished to understand more about the choice of arched windows to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 284.