TrustNews Sep 21

Planning Appraisal Group

PAG Chair Graeme Stevenson reports on the group's work over the last quarter.

 

It seems now, at last, that the PAG panels are able to return to face-to-face meetings at the Heritage Centre. It is to their credit that the members have been able to maintain purposeful discussion and assessments of the planning applications, every week, over the past 18 months of lockdown. Virtual meetings, whether by Zoom or exchange of emails, are never conducive to meaningful or conclusive debate. However, the panels were not daunted by the ordeal and we were able to continue one of the Trust's vital roles, keeping the City Council Planning Department updated with the Trust's comments on each and every planning application for the City.

 

Over the past quarter, most of the planning applications have been to do with private domestic projects and fewer commercial developments. Nevertheless, an increase in the desire to extend or alter buildings in a more unconventional and contemporary manner (not to be discouraged!) has taxed the panels' judgment where the use of inappropriate materials and architectural concepts have been proposed. On balance, the range of many modernisation schemes, both traditional and contemporary, has been well conceived, and found acceptable by the Panels.

 

 

The multi-storey car park project on the Coventry House site at Bar End continues to be contentious. The first planning application, which Winchester City Council approved for itself in April 2021, has now been submitted to the High Court for Judicial Review. The Trust objected to this application and supported the concerns expressed by local residents and the South Downs National Park Authority. A second application has now been lodged by the City Council which purports to address some of the objections to the first application. This second application does not, however, address the Trust's original objection.

 

 

Meanwhile, undeterred, the Council has started work on the site; this, presumably, being within the terms of the earlier planning consent for parking provision at ground level only. It is disappointing that the proposed multi-storey building will accommodate only slightly in excess of twice the number of parking spaces proposed at ground level.

 

It is hoped that with the reinstatement of quarterly meetings between the City Council's Planning Department and the Trust, we can look forward to more in-depth discussions. These will provide a platform for clarification of current planning procedures and responses to any planning dilemmas the Trust might have.

 

Once again we thank the PAG panel members, who are all volunteers, for carrying out their important work. We have a number of vacancies on our panels at present, so if you have an interest in planning and development in Winchester and would like to become a member of a panel, please contact Tessa at secretary@cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk. It's not a big commitment - just an hour or two per month - and no experience is necessary - training will be provided.

 

The Trust welcomes informative comments from local people, but must avoid being influenced by vested interests or personal matters. Individuals who believe their interests are being affected by proposed schemes are advised to Contact their Ward Councillors, who have more influence over such matters. If you would like to see details or Trust objections to planning applications and their fate, please go to the monthly PAG reports on our website.