Planning Appraisal Group - TrustNews Mar 13
The Trust has recently been approached by members about two particular planning issues.
The first concern was about Chestnut Meads, Kingsgate Road, a Victorian house of some considerable presence that has been standing empty for some years after being given permission to be refurbished for three dwellings, with two new houses in the garden behind. During this time there were worrying signs that the inadequately protected building had been degenerating. When at last there were signs of activity on the site, and the new owner, Bargate Homes, put up their signs, the building was shrouded in hoarding, leaving us with many anxious queries: What are the developers up to? Why is there no roof? Are they demolishing the building? Part of the original permission involved replacing the roof and the supporting timbers, and when the roof was removed the walls became unstable and some very disturbing structural faults were found; it became apparent that a large proportion of the walls also needed replacing. Fortunately the house has a cavity wall, with the inner and outer walls having the same brick, and all the sound bricks have been salvaged. Work is now taking place to rebuild the walls with the original bricks on the outer skin, using lime mortar as would have been done in Victorian times, and an application to legalise this larger-than-expected rebuild is wending its way through the planning system.
The second scheme, to demolish part of the wall on the front boundary of 27 Clifton Road for off-street parking, has caused a considerable amount of outrage in the locality for a variety of reasons. These include the loss of parking spaces on the road in front of the entrance and being contrary to the areas Neighbourhood Design Statement, a conclusion reached following the damaging effect of similar demolitions that have been allowed in the past. We felt that these regrettable past errors should not be compounded, and objected to the proposal, feeling that being immediately adjacent to Oram‘s Arbour the wall’s demolition would be detrimental to the appearance and character of this part of the Conservation Area.
Decisions have been made on three schemes mentioned in the last TrustNews. The proposal to replace 28 Chilbolton Avenue with a block of flats and two detached houses at the rear has been withdrawn. The demolition of 68 Stoney Lane to make way for ten dwellings on the site and behind Nos 58-72 has been refused because of the cramped layout that would result and the possible effect the development would have on trees in adjoining gardens. The proposal to demolish 116 Christchurch Road for six dwellings has also been refused as having a cramped layout, being intrusive in the street scene and having an inappropriate mix of dwelling sizes.
A more suitable mixture of dwelling sizes was proposed for the demolition of Beaconsfield House, 88 Andover Road: one 4-bedroom and a row of five 3-bedroom houses, and a block containing one 1-bedroom and five 2-bedroom flats. We felt good use had been made of the site and the public open space adjoining Winton Close to the south, but regretted the lack of pedestrian access through the site from Park Road and the high fencing along part of the Park Road boundary.
Interesting use of the site was made of the rather unloved area of land at Sparkford Road & Erskine Road, where it is proposed 18 affordable dwellings should be built at the eastern end of Erskine Road. We welcomed the 100% provision of rentable and shared-ownership affordable dwellings (nine 2-bedroom and nine 3-bedroom), the use of solar panels, and that a good part of the site was to be improved by “trim trails”, play areas and recreational space. However, we regretted the lack of innovative design for the houses and the fact that only Code 3 sustainability was being aimed for, while appreciating that Code 5 sustainability would be unviable for affordable housing. Congratulations to A2 Dominion New Homes for not insisting that yet more 4- and 5-bedroom marketable houses are essential for a successful new development.