Agenda and minutes
PDF 113 KBVenue: Presentation Suite, Ground Floor, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed. Minutes: None. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th September are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record. Minutes: The Panel agreed the notes. |
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CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report on planning applications received for consideration by the Panel. Minutes: A) Pre-application Presentation: Abbey Lane / Abbey Park Road
Planning Application 20191081
DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BOUNDARY WALL; DEVELOPMENT OF SITE WITH A 4 STOREY OFFICE BUILDING (USE CLASS B1)
Although the Panel appreciated the constraints of the site, the overreaching conclusion was that the building as currently proposed is too sizeable for the site. Its height as matched by its overall mass / width were criticized as out of keeping with the streetscene. Although the brick elevations and modern aesthetic were complimented by some, most members had reservations regarding the unapologetically modern frontage, with broad windows and strong verticality throughout, considered as incompatible with adjacent properties.
A scheme of reduced overall height (with potential recessed top storey) and revised design, was considered as the best way forward for the scheme to be rendered acceptable.
SEEK AMENDMENTS
C) 42 BELGRAVE GATE, FORMER ABC CINEMA Planning Application 20191390
CONSTRUCTION OF 126 RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS (80 X 1 BED AND 46 X 2 BED) FOR THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR AND RETAIL / OFFICE UNITS TO THE GROUND FLOOR (CLASS A1, A2, A3 AND B1) BLOCK FACING BELGRAVE GATE 5 STOREY'S, BLOCKS FACING NEW ROAD 5, 7 AND 9 STOREY'S, BLOCK FACING MANSFIELD ST 9 STOREY'S. CAR PARKING AND BIN STORAGE.
The members criticised the scale of the elevations to Mansfield Street, considered of an imposing impact on the adjacent Church Gate Conservation Area. More broadly, the scheme’s design was considered overtly plain and decontextualized, not corresponding to its locality. This was especially considered to be the case to north of the plot, where the ‘disjointed and overly blank’ high-rise sections were considered to have a substantial, and detrimental, impact on the Conservation Area. The quality of the visuals was also criticised, with some reservations voiced regarding the accuracy and compatibility of some of the imagery.
The scheme was considered as excessive for its site, especially considering the northernmost section of the plot, and of high potential to adversely affect the setting of and views from the Church Gate Conservation Area.
OBJECTIONS
D) ABBEY PARK ROAD, LAND TO THE NORTH OF Planning Application 20191730
DEMOLITION OF PART OF BRICK WALL TO FRONT BOUNDARY AND CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT WALL, CONSTRUCTION OF TWO AND THREE STOREY BUILDING TO PROVIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL (CLASS D1), CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE AND TWO STOREY SPORTS HALL(CLASS D1), PLAYING PITCHES AND ANCILLARY PARKING, LANDSCAPING, AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION VEHICULAR ACCESS
The Panel focused on the meagre information submitted as part of the application. From the drawings and visuals submitted, they considered the architecture to be of a quality inferior to the location, insensitive in heritage terms. Comments addressed the industrial quality of the buildings, ‘crude’ simplicity and bulky form. The lack of primary frontage addressing Abbey Park Road was criticised, as was the site layout with car-parking to the front. Some natural screening was advanced as advantageous for the scheme to achieve a more successful visual connection with the adjacent assets.
Concerns regarding the demolition and rebuilding of the brick ... view the full minutes text for item 116. |