Our notes this time focuse on Planning applications, as there are a lot of significant ones at present.
The gardens of 26-27 Somerset Street the applicant’s appeal against the City’s refusal to permit development of a block of 8 studio flats has been dismissed.
UBHT has applied to undertake a major residential development at 6 Kingsdown Parade – No. 08/01771/F, see details on the City Council’s website. Development is clearly acceptable but the Committee say that the proposals over develop the site and the architectural detail of the facades is unsympathetic to the character of the Conservation Area. Your views matter, and you can respond online.
The King Charles – King’s Square Avenue – No. 08/01241/F – response period is closed. The Committee has objected to this application to demolish most of the pub and to replace it with an unsympathetic block of studio flats. There are excellent examples of sympathetically regenerated buildings nearby.
The Joker on the Green. The Planning Committee has refused the application to retain this sculpture. The applicant says that she intends to appeal.
University
You may remember the KCG objected to the University’s proposals for Phase 1 of the development of its Masterplan, last year. As a result of advice from the Planning Department the University revised its plans. Go to Senate House before the 30th April to view the exhibition of the revised proposals and give your views. The Committee believe that the revised proposals are better than the first plan but don’t go far enough to meet our objections. The main points are
(i)The redesigned Biological Sciences Building on St. Michaels’ Hill is still too high. The Masterplan describes three blocks each of four floors. The proposal is to build a 5-floor lower and middle block and a 6-floor upper block at the Tyndall Avenue end.
(ii)The Maths block is one floor lower and its roof is reduced. There is no mock up photograph to show the effect of the block on the strategic view of the Physics Tower from Kingsdown Parade where it stops the view. Views into and out of Kingsdown are under threat from development.
147a St. Michaels’ Hill – No. 08/01241/F – closing date of public response – 30 April.
There is a new application to convert most of the building to residential use. The Committee do not object to the whole of application but only to certain aspects (i) to the extent of the extent of the loss of employment space (ii) to the continued use of the forecourt for parking, and (iii) to the installation of a bin store on the forecourt.
KCG looks for new members to serve on the committee. If you would like to attend a committee meeting to see what we do, please leave a message on the website.
Next Meeting of the committee – is on Tuesday the 20th May. Please email the secretary at se*******@di*******.net about any matter of concern on the subject of Kingsdown.
