Report from Planning and Policy Committee - TrustNews February 1990
Certain planning matters arose during 1989 which, although not hitting the headlines, were of considerable importance. Our Panel inspected their first satellite dish application, at Eastgate House. This was for a 90 cm dish discreetly sited at the rear of the building. Similar smaller dishes do not need planning consent, and it is hoped that owners of buildings, particularly in Conservation Areas, will be equally discreet.
Nos 1-8 City Road, which was a 1960's office block with restaurant and shopping use on the ground floor (adjoining the Baptist Church), has now been demolished, and the owners have applied for a dispensation to include Office Use (A2) on the ground floor of the new building. It is hoped that the City Planning Committee will resist this application, which is contrary to the Area Local Plan. It will also have an adverse effect on the remainder of City Road which predominantly comprises shops and restaurants at ground floor level.
The Trust also considers that City Road is in need of a comprehensive development plan which would obviate the piecemeal rebuilding which seems to be taking place on the North side of this road. Marston's Brewery site has now received planning approval, and the Trust is pleased that the plans preserve the historical features of this site. It is sad that the Bowling Green Clubhouse has to go, but developments of this nature have to be financially viable. The treatment of the line of the old City Wall in North Walls still needs further consideration, but this is not likely to be put into effect for the next three years.
An application to build an office block on the North side of the Heritage Centre has been refused on the grounds that the use should be residential, and it should also be part of an overall development plan for the area. It is apparent that since the Heritage Centre was Listed, it will play an important part in setting the standard of the development which will take place round about it.
In 1989 the Trust arranged several Presentations of planning applications, including the Hotel and Golf Course at Pitt, Marston's Brewery site at North Walls, the Hotel complex at Alresford Road, and Kingdons development at Parchment Street. Not all the architects concerned, however, have a good opinion of our Presentations, and one firm considered them to be "particularly dour and humourless". We can only apologise, and try to do better in the future!
The Trust is concerned over what appears to be a miscarriage of planning justice. The owner of 59, Colebrook Street has twice been refused permission for a change of use from residential to offices, in spite of the fact that the City have themselves, on the adjoining site, demolished two houses and erected offices. On that occasion, English Heritage remarked that "the Council has not been consistent in the application of its policies". Following the latest refusal, we understand that the City is now purchasing 59, Colebrook Street.
One further matter of concern to the Trust is the mechanism by which local planning authorities can give themselves planning permissionw in respect of proposed development in which the local authority has a financial interest. We are pleased that the Civic Trust is now taking up this matter with the Secretary of State. One outstanding example of this procedure in Winchester was the Brooks development.