Planning Trends in Winchester - TrustNews May 1989
Jeffrey Smith - Chairman of Development Control
The Trust monitors every important planning application within the City boundaries, and sometimes a little beyond. Many applicationa are straightforward and call for no comment but others, particularly in Conservation Areas, have to be opposed, and in these cases the Trust will register an objection. As a general rule where an objection is made, the application can no longer be dealt with under delegate powers. We like to think that the Trust is instrumental in raising the standard of architecture in Winchester, and this may very well be so. Certainly the Trust is able from its members to call on very considerable expertise, which must be of value to the Planning Authority. The Director of Planning no doubt also welcomes the support given by the Trust when planning refusals go to Appeal. However, not all such Appeals can be supported and, where we disagree with the City's planning decision, we do not hesitate to say so.
The Trust has not been so successful in protecting the dwindling stock of older Georgian and Regency town houses in Winchester, towards which the City Council does not seem to be particularly sympathetic. Recent planning applications to demolish in Colebrook Street and Eastgate Street have been approved in spite of strong objections by the Trust. There are intense financial pressures for redevelopment within the city walls, and there is a current policy to put car-parking underground which places old houses with basements and cellars at risk. These underground car-parks are now perhaps the greatest threat to preservation and archaeology in the centre of historic towns.
The major on-going planning development is Peninsula Barracks, and this will have a lasting effect on the character of the city. The Trust here has been participating at a very early stage, and has already had an opportunity of inspecting plans and models, and making preliminary comments, as will be seen from Michael Carden's article.
A civic society such as ours must be prepared to face both success and failure in its planning policies. We strive to preserve,and enhance the charm and importance of Winchester, which is very much tied up with its ancient buildings. Strangely it is in this field that we seem to have the least influence on planning. A listed building in Staple Gardens has recently been lost, but on the other hand we have secured the listing Grade II of our Heritage Centre, which is of more than superficial importance.
STOP PRESS: The note I have just received from Pamela Peskett, City Councillor, seems relevant to the above article: "We understand that the City Council is considering extending the boundary of its conservation area in the vicinity of Hyde Close and Swan Lane. It would be a welcome extension ensuring a degree of preservation to some of the more noteworthy of Winchester Victorian terraces. Perhaps at the same time consideration could be given to including more of Hyde in the conservation area, possibly from King Alfred Terrace to Arthur Road." Ed.