Planning Appraisal Group - TrustNews March 15
If the number of residential developments being put fon/vard to the planners is anything to go by, it would appear that economic recovery might indeed be under way. it is, however, interesting that in some the number of dwellings proposed in previous schemes has been reduced.
The two largest schemes for which the Trust has had pre-application presentations have both got fewer dwellings. The new redevelopment of the Hampshire Police Headquarters, Romsey Road now has 200 units. rather than the 250 of the previously permitted application, and this has resulted in a number of improvements, including a large proportion of the parking being underground and an evident aim to retain as many of the trees on the site as is possible. We did, however, feel that something simpler was needed in place of the rather elaborate rustication and classical detailing proposed for the two modest terraces running parallel with West End Terrace, and that instead of having kerbed pavements, a shared space concept should be used throughout the development; other comments relating to the roofscape were also made. The number of houses in an amended scheme for building on land at Pitt Vale was also considerably reduced, from 500 to 250, 40% of which would be affordable houses, with some council housing. A further carrot towards overcoming local opposition was the inclusion of community space and a care facility, together with some office and retail space. It was interesting that no approach had yet been made to either a housing association or the planners for a pre-application discussion of the scheme, and we saw no reason to change our previous objection to the scheme (see last August's TrustNews), especilly as it appears that Linden Homes now also owns the farming land to the west of the site.
We were sorry that a major concern we raised at the pre-application stage had not been taken on board in the application to renovate, convert and develop land and buildings for 11 dwellings behind Wellington House, 77 Kingsgate Street, and that access into the interior of the site was still to be from Canon Street. We felt then, and still do, that this stretch of Canon Street is far too narrow for this purpose, and that a relatively minor alteration to the layout could achieve satisfactory access from Kingsgate Street. So, although the actual development was felt acceptable, we objected to the access that was proposed.
Of the three other applications discussed in November’s TrustNews, two are still awaiting a decision: the residential development at Teg Down House, 29 Chilbolton Avenue, and the demolition and replacement of the Snooker Centre, Radley House, 7 St Cross Road, together with dwellings facing onto Edgar Road. Only the proposal to replace the cladding of the link to the Winchester College Art School, 21 Kingsgate Road, has been decided, with permission for the change being granted by the Planning Committee.
Despite only 6 letter of approval, as against a petition with 176 signatures and 80 letters of objection, the Planning Committee has also granted permission for another controversial proposal, the Extra Care Home, on the Chesil Street Carpark. The Trust was among the objectors, feeling that the demands being made of the restricted site resulted in overdevelopment, and that the narrow pavements of Chesil Street and the bridge would make access into the City centre very problematic for anyone in a buggy.
Sometimes it is hard to understand how an applicants mind works, and consequently it was puzzling to know why it was thought that the subdivision of the dwellings at 22-23 Kingsgate Road would make it acceptable to reduce the size of their gardens, when a previous proposal to do this had been refused by WCC, followed by the dismissal on appeal by the Inspectorate, on the grounds that it would adversely affect the setting of a Listed Building. lt is still a Listed Building and its setting remains the same, even though internally it might be slightly different. Following the planners’ indication that it would be refused for the same reasons as before, the application has now been withdrawn. What a waste of everyone’s time!