PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE BOURNEMOUTH PLANNING DEPARTMENT DURING MARCH 2023 – A CRITIQUE BY JOHN SOANE, BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONSULTANT TO BOURNEMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY
69 Glenferness Avenue, Talbot Woods Ref. No. 7-2023-6241-E
This is an application to build a first floor side extension, a new extended rear façade, a redesigned front elevation and main entrance in respect to an existing detached property, now somewhat derelict, built in modernist style during the 1960’s. The latter is basically a rectangular, unadorned box with a pitched roof with modern rectangular band horizontal windows of different sizes arranged in asymmetrical fashion. The site lies within the Talbot Woods Conservation Area
There would be a relative increase in the dimensions of the built foot print but the main change would be the change in the general appearance of the property towards a more integrated design in early twentieth century Arts and Crafts style. There would be a very distinctive and complex hipped roof with dormers above and the majority of windows on both the principal and rear facades façades would be sash with upper divisions and symmetrically positioned. The principal design exception to this general design change would be the ground floor of the rear extension which would consist entirely of five large glass panels/French windows.
The Society accepts the findings of the Heritage Report that the side extension is likely to make the new structure somewhat bulky in respect to neighbouring properties and that the enlarged hipped roof structure might be considered rather unusual in the area. However we believe very strongly that the main positive advantage of the extensive design changes to the existing property will be to produce a detached house in the Arts and Crafts style that compliments fully the predominant appearance of the surrounding original properties and thus fully enhances the wider urban perspective of this section of Glenferness Avenue.
However the Society feels that the new proportions of the house would be improved if the side extension could be made lass prominent and the somewhat unregular shape of the hipped roof extension at the rear be better balanced. We also think that the massive glass wall on the rear façade should be broken up into separate arched sections. With these improvements we think that the exceptional architectural and planning standards of the Talbot Woods neighbourhood would be preserved
Consequently, because the Society feel that this planning application does not fully meet the strict townscape conservation policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, we think it should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.
35 Eldon Road, Wallisdown Ref. No. 7-2023-28821`-A
This is an application to erect a detached, two storey, two bedroom house on a severed site in the extreme western corner of the original site very close to the boundary with no. 39. The general design of the proposed new property would be modernised Arts and Crafts, with clusters of two, three and four traditional window sections placed around the property and with a hipped roof,
The Society appreciate that the proposed building is reasonably well designed but, as with so many newly severed building sites, the latter is far too small to accommodate a new property in a location that was never designed for further houses. In this respect we agree with local opinion which fears that increasing developments of this kind would reduce the peace of older residential neighbourhoods leading to overdevelopment in many parts of Bournemouth at the expense of many valuable gardens and open spaces. Therefore the Society has decided that since this application in no way complies with the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, it should be refused.
38 Headswell Crescent, Northbourne Ref. No. 7-2023-2483-F
This is an application to build a three bedroom detached dwelling in the rear portion of an already developed house site. The development would be in the form of a small chalet bungalow, one and a half storeys high with a pitched roof. The symmetrical front façade would contain the entrance between a bay window and an integral garage and include four double panelled windows and a single one in the central gable The rear elevation would be more asymmetrical and include three and four panelled off centre French windows.
The Society feels that although the new structure appears reasonably spacious it is inappropriately positioned for the site . For considering that the latter is large and irregular with a triangular section near the entrance and a further considerable rectangular section beyond, we find the decision to place the new property very close and parallel to the existing house in the triangular section of the site very surprising. We think that if built the bunched up position if the two houses would create a poor spatial perspective; we think it would be far better , considering the amount of space available, to site the new property in the undeveloped, rectangular section of the site.
Therefore since this application in no way complies with the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, the Society has decided that it should be deferred for further consideration and improvement.
28 Kimberley Road Southbourne Ref. No. 7-2023-26004-B
This is an application to construct a two storey rear extension to an existing house. The site is very long and narrow and consequently the built foot print is also very narrow only allowing a series of rooms one room wide. The present rectangular building which is rather austere with a hipped roof and with two large rectangular windows near the main side entrance on the ground and first floors, would be extended in the same style towards the rear of the site; the new narrow elevation would contain quadruple French windows on the ground floor,
The Society notes that everything about this project is unusual, but finds no compelling reason to censure the design.
Therefore because this application does not go against the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, the Society can find no reason to oppose it.
24 Norwich Avenue Ref. No. 7-2023-17310-A
This is an application to create further accommodation at second floor ( roof ) level on top of a small, late nineteenth century artisan/ workingman’s cottage that was part of the terraced development built in the Triangle at that time in order to service the large villas on the West Cliff. The principal façade of this property has sash windows and a single storey bay window and a pitched roof above.
The extra accommodation would consist of an exceptionally large modern dormer that would overlook the rear of the property. The Society strongly feels that the restricted dimensions of the original house are simply too small to take what amounts to a massive expansion of roof space. In addition we feel that the new development would create a considerable unbalancing of the wider perspective en masse of the surviving cottage tenements.
Consequently, we are of the opinion that since this application in no respects the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, it should be refused.
76 Brackendale Road Ref. No. 7-2023-12599-C
This is an application to construct single and two storey extensions, mainly to the side and rear of an existing property which has the appearance of an especially picturesque chalet bungalow.. In particular there is a conspicuous gable on the principal elevation that merges with the pitched roof.
The changes would involve the reduction of the cottagey appearance of the rear elevation by the extension of the first floor and the insertion of two closely positioned, three panelled dormers in the extended hipped roof. There would be a large, divided, six light window on the ground floor and a relatively small, one storey extension at one corner in which a modernist window would comprise, in an asymmetrical manner, half the new rear elevation. The front elevation would not be subject to such considerable stylistic changes.
The Society observes that these new developments would involve an insensitive mixing of the cottage orne style with more modernist architectural elements with the result that the original structure would no longer appear as an integrated and balanced piece of design. Therefore we would suggest the following improvements: that all new windows conform to the more traditionally shaped fenestration of the original building; that the new small rear extension conforms more closely to the conservatory that it would replace and that the rear dormers be reduced considerably in bulk.
It therefore follows that on account of the fact that this application does not fully conform to the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, the Society has decided that it should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.