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From the Newsletter- October 2004 |
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The following is a selection of Planning Applications, which are either under current consideration or have been decided recently.Bristol and West Sports Ground, Portway
An application by Goals Soccer Centres was put to the city council towards the end of last year. It was for a new pavilion, 12 all - weather, five - aside, synthetic soccer pitches and extensive parking, and the Society objected on the general grounds of intrusion into the Avon Gorge and the traffic implications. The application was subsequently withdrawn but has re-appeared with minor changes to the pavilion and a reduction in pitches from 12 to 11. We do not think these changes are of much significance and have written again saying so.
High Kingsdown Flats
An application to replace original aluminum windows and asbestos panels with uPVC was refused by the planners last December. The High Kingsdown Residents Association appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against this refusal and the case was considered by an inspector in July this year. His decision, given in August, was a split one, - he allowed the uPVC windows but refused the replacement panels on the grounds that the former would not be harmful to the Cotham, Redland and Gloucester Road Conservation Area while the latter would. He gave little weight to arguments of sustainability. This is an unsatisfactory result from the Society's point of view as we regularly condemn the use of uPVC on both appearance and environmental grounds.
Baltic Wharf - various addresses
The recent application to replace all timber window units, doors and asbestos panels with uPVC in a huge tranche of housing at Baltic Wharf presented similar problems to those at High Kingsdown Flats. Possibly influenced by the inspector's decision at that appeal, the whole development was approved under delegated powers, ie by a planning officer without reference to the Development Control Committee. Again, this was a most unsatisfactory outcome from our point of view.
Site of Squash Courts and Rifle Range, Canynge Road, Clifton
An earlier application to develop on this site was refused planning permission and went to appeal. The inspector found that the loss of recreational space was not significant, particularly because Clifton College promised to provide similar facilities not too far away. He was however critical of aspects of the design of the new buildings and the effect on the Clifton Conservation Area. The site has now passed to another owner and another application has been submitted. We hold that many of the inspector's criticisms of the previous scheme remain valid and that the new proposals remain unacceptable.
Former Bristol and West Site, Broad Quay
Following the rejection of an earlier application to develop this site to include a 23 - storey tower, new architects have been engaged. Stakeholder meetings have been held, at which the Society has been represented, to enable the architects to get a public response to their thinking, and an application for a much changed set of plans has been put to the city planners. The principal change is the retention of the existing tower building as a hotel, although it will be considerably changed in appearance. The Society is satisfied with the outcome although some reservations on detail have been expressed to the planners.
Wapping Wharf Bridge
Members will remember that a bridge proposal was made last year and this led to, or coincided with, one of our public debates at the Architecture Centre. The proposals have now been modified in that the pedestrian/cyclist access to the quays has been altered. Our view, publicly expressed, is that we support some form of crossing of the Floating Harbour in this area but we are not convinced that it should be a bridge, rather a ferry should be tried initially.
Gordon Tucker
Convenor, Planning Applications Group
0117 973 2040
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