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From the Newsletter- January 2005 |
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The following is a selection of Planning Applications, which are either under current consideration or have been decided recently.
Redland Playing Fields, Redland Court Road
This is the most significant application that has come before the Development Control (DC) Committees for some time. It was the only item on the agenda of a special meeting of the DC(North) Committee on 24th November, a meeting that lasted some 3½ hours. It was for the provision of a new secondary school on the Redland playing fields to provide for education of children from the north central area i.e. principally Redland, Bishopston, Henleaze, Westbury Park. There has been huge public interest in the proposals for some years and the meeting on 24th November reflected this. The educational arguments for a school were strong but the planning arguments against this use of the site were no less so. Both public and councillors put their views, ably controlled by the chair of the committee, Cllr Judy Patterson.
The outcome was a vote in favour of the proposal (9 for, 2 against) and the present situation is that this decision is subject to it being referred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM) for his consideration as a departure from the Bristol Local Plan. If the ODPM does not wish to ‘call in’ the application i.e. hold a public inquiry, then planning permission will be granted.
Land at the Junction of Cumberland Place and Granby Hill, Hotwells
Development on this site by Edward Ware Homes was the subject of a public inquiry some months ago and the outcome was that the inspector appointed by the Secretary of State allowed the scheme, although not without comment. The developers have now put in a further application, increasing the number of residential units from 11 to 13. It is our view that the allowed density should be held to and that any increase represents over intensive development and should be refused.
Former Bristol and West site, Broad Quay
This development was referred to in the last Newsletter and the latest version of the application has been put on the planning register. As said last time, the Society is happy with the general thrust of the proposals but has expressed views on the massing of the building to the west of the tower and on details of the elevation to The Centre, particularly in front of the tower where we feel improvements could be made.
27 Stoke Hill, Stoke Bishop
This has been a somewhat protracted application to build a 3-bedroom house in the garden of 27 Stoke Hill. The latter is listed Grade II and the planning officer recommended refusal of the development on the grounds that it would harm the setting of the listed building and would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Sneyd Park Conservation Area. Councillors felt they were unable to visualise the site and arranged a visit on 18th November. Following this the application went before the committee again on 8th December when it was refused for reasons recommended at the previous committee meeting.
Crittall Windows Site, Bath Road
This is another site with a long history, at the corner of Bath Road and West Town Lane, Brislington. The supermarket chain Lidl obtained permission some time ago to build on the site and they have now put in an application to re-site the store at the rear of the site instead of fronting on to Bath Road, which we had thought appropriate. The arguments for the change are largely to do with traffic and highway considerations and the Society has no strong view on this new application.
Land at Temple Gate
These proposals have received public airing in the local press. They include the demolition of a substantial tranche of unlovely buildings between the New Cut and the Temple Meads Incline, buildings once used by W H Smith and others. They have been empty for some time and it is proposed to rebuild with a mixed development including 201 residential units. The developers have consulted widely with the public, the city council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the South West Regional Development Agency, the Environment Agency and English Heritage. They maintain that there is general support for their plans, although English Heritage have expressed reservations regarding massing and scale. The Society with its limited, resources has not found it possible to engage in this huge scheme.
Gordon Tucker
Convenor, Planning Applications Group
Tel: 0117 973 2040
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