Three Preservations Matters of Concern - TrustNews February 1989
1 Staple Gardens
In July last year, it was noticed that partial demolition of 1, Staple Gardens, a listed building, was in progress without planning permission. Representations by members of the Trust were made to the City Council and the work was stopped. 1 Staple Gardens, although possibly beyond economic repair, could have been rebuilt using the old materials. The fact that it has been allowed to decay over many years is an example of a process which the Trust views with growing apprehension: that of allowing houses of character to fall into disrepair so that their inevitable fate becomes that of demolition, with or without City Council permission.
The Trust sees it as an important future role of the Winchester Preservation Trust to bring continuous pressure to bear on the City Council whenever such cases are seen to exist. Members of the Trust who know of any cases of this kind should write to the Secretary, Mrs Clarissa Paine, so that they can be brought to the attention of Council members.
Manor Farm, Pitt; Inquiry
A Public Inquiry was held at the Guildhall, Winchester, in November into the application by Leading Leisure PLC of Southampton, to build 30 luxury Fairway houses at Manor Farm, Pitt. The appellants claimed that the houses were necessary in order to make the golf course and hotel complex financially viable.
Winchester City Council refused planning permission for the 30 houses on the grounds that the application is contrary to the established planning policies for the Winchester Area as contained in the Local Plan and the South and Mid-Hants Structure Plans, and would be a clear breach of strategic countryside policies and set a very dangerous precedent for further developments.
Sarum Farm was mentioned several times, and it will be remembered that it was only this time last year that an Inquiry was held, when fortunately the Inspector turned Trafalgar House's appeal down.
Robert Cross, for the Winchester Preservation Trust, and Jennifer Ffennell, for the CPRE, spoke opposing the proposed development, as did Councillors Audrey Hobbs, Ann Bailey and Brian Collins, and five members of the public. Their arguments can be summarised as follows: supporting the Local Plan;maintaining a buffer of open countryside between Winchester and neighbouring conurbations, thus preserving Winchester's landscape setting; not creating a precedent by allowing development to encroach therein; loss of amenity values; loss of ancient woodland; effects on wildlife; extra traffic on an already over-burdened road; and last, but no least, the enormous expense to the ratepayers of repeatedly defending Winchester's boundaries.
The Inspector's decision is expected in February/March 1989.
Sarum Farm Appeal
An Appeal has been lodged by Mr Wallington of Greenacres, into the refusal by Winchester City Council to allow outline planning permission for the erection of two detached dwellings, plus garages, on 0.6 hectares of land at Sarum Farm. Mr Wallington, who is the freehold owner, also owns the adjoining land.
There will be an Informal Hearing in 1989 - possibly in April or May -but a definate date has yet to be fixed as the Planning Department are overwhelmed by appeals.
Representations will be heard at the Informal Hearing by the Inspector, but the written evidence will be taken as read. In view of the importance of this site in the light of the Local Plan's policy of restraining development on Winchester's boundaries, it is important that objections to the proposed development are submitted afresh to the Department of the Environment, as soon as the date for the Hearing has been set.