{"id":785,"date":"2019-07-14T11:27:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-14T10:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/mirror_bcs\/?p=785"},"modified":"2019-07-14T11:27:01","modified_gmt":"2019-07-14T10:27:01","slug":"planning-applications-may-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bournemouthcivicsociety.org.uk\/comments-on-planning-applications\/planning-applications-may-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning Applications May 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

PLANNING\u00a0 APPLICATIONS\u00a0 RECEIVED\u00a0 BY\u00a0 THE\u00a0 BOURNEMOUTH\u00a0 PLANNING\u00a0 DEPARTMENT\u00a0 DURING\u00a0 MAY\u00a0 2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0A\u00a0 CRITIQUE\u00a0 BY\u00a0 JOHN\u00a0 SOANE,\u00a0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT\u00a0 CONSULTANT\u00a0 TO\u00a0 BOURNEMOUTH\u00a0 CIVIC\u00a0 SOCIETY<\/strong><\/p>\n

14-20a Belle Vue Road, Southbourne\u00a0 \u00a0Ref No.\u00a0 20591-B<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the latest application to construct a three\/four storey building containing 38 sheltered flats for older persons over 60 years old on the\u00a0 site of four bungalows. In comparison with the more traditional design of the previous application, the design of the proposed structure is in the contemporary modernist format that may be \u00a0considered appropriate for a building intended for institutional use.\u00a0 The relatively small one bedroom apartments would be\u00a0 grouped together within three large rectangular blocks\u00a0 which would be joined in\u00a0 the centre to resemble, in a more formal way, an enormous three leaved clover.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0 different\u00a0 facades would be asymmetrically designed\u00a0 in a combination of interconnecting, rectangular,\u00a0\u00a0 architectural elements;\u00a0 some sections having different sized rectangular windows, others horizontal glass sections with balconies and in some places substantial sections of solid wall<\/p>\n

The Society\u00a0 is of the opinion that the overt modernist style of the proposals would \u00a0make the\u00a0 new structure aesthetically wholly incompatible with the adjacent townscape.\u00a0\u00a0 And indeed there has been an unprecedented negative response in the form of no less than 65 letters of comment from local residents.\u00a0 Their main complaint with which the Civic Society concurs is that the built footprint and general mass of what is proposed is far too large for the small scale of the individual bungalows and houses of the surrounding area.\u00a0\u00a0 It is \u00a0felt that the structure would would overwhelm the gardens of many existing properties by considerably restricting light and privacy \u2013 thereby degrading the amenity\u00a0 and community values that still exist in the neighbourhood.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is also the general feeling that further blocks of flats and retirement complexes are not needed,\u00a0 but more affordable family houses would be far better appreciated, this we endorse.\u00a0 More flatted residential units, it is strongly believed would create\u00a0 yet more traffic and thus a further\u00a0 degredation of the peaceful family atmosphere of this part of Southbourne.<\/p>\n

The Society therefore thinks that because this application in no way fulfils the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, it should be refused.<\/p>\n

295-297 Castle Lane West\u00a0\u00a0 Ref \u00a0No.\u00a0 7-2019-18110-D<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an application to construct a three storey block of ten flats; a two storey block of four flats and a single dwelling house, \u00a0all in modernized traditional style, on the site of a substantial mid twentieth century \u00a0family house.<\/p>\n

The development will consist mainly of two separate blocks, built parallel to each other facing on to Castle Lane West.\u00a0 The principal fa\u00e7ade of Block A would encompass two slight projections of differing width ending in two gables which would be incorporated into a complex \u00a0pitched roof.\u00a0\u00a0 Fenestration would be symmetrically designed and consist generally of double or triple sized vertical\u00a0 casement windows.\u00a0 \u00a0There would also be two French windows and one dormer.\u00a0 Block A \u00a0would have a longer fa\u00e7ade along Belmont Avenue with two projections with gables and three\u00a0 French windows; the single dwelling house of one and a half stories would be attached to this fa\u00e7ade. The appearance of Block B, facing on to Castle Lane West, would, with one projection and gable, be a scaled down facsimile of Block A.<\/p>\n

The Society is reasonably satisfied with the general characteristics of the design of the proposed development but we find the mass of Block A too large in relation to the size of the adjacent houses. If built, this structure would considerably disturb the\u00a0 spatial balance of\u00a0 the existing residential townscape.\u00a0 We also think there is inadequate car\u00a0 parking space for the number of designated flats.\u00a0 The Society therefore suggests that two smaller blocks, both not much larger than Block A would ensure a better aesthetic balance to the area. Consequently we have decided\u00a0 that since this proposal does not properly fulfill the townscape conditions of the Bournemouth Local Plan it should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.<\/p>\n

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11-13 West Cliff Road (former Wessex Hotel)\u00a0\u00a0 Ref No. 7-2019-2037-AM<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an application to increase the residential\u00a0 accommodation within the two flat blocks of the approved rebuilding scheme for the site of the Wessex Hotel.\u00a0\u00a0 It would consist of\u00a0 six residential units and would be housed within large relatively shallow mansard roofs above the two blocks of flats. The flats would be lit by a row of dormer windows and connected to balconies created on the top of the bay window projections which are part of the lower facades of the two buildings.<\/p>\n

The Society is in agreement with the Roof Addendum Design and Access Statement which suggests that the addition of mansard roofs would be a considerable enhancement of the existing proposed design and more in keeping with the surviving architectural features of the adjacent Victorian villas.\u00a0 However we would suggest that a further enhancement of the facades could be achieved by the removal of the proposed glass balconies for more traditional, wrought iron railing substitutes. Consequently, the Society feels that since this proposal which, is within the West Cliff and Poole Hill Conservation Area, generally satisfies the conservation policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, it should be allowed.<\/p>\n

Landscaping Plan for the Winter Gardens site.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ref No.\u00a0\u00a0 7-2019-1273-AZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the landscaping proposals for the extensive Winter Gardens redevelopment scheme it is proposed\u00a0 that a considerable amount of the existing natural wooded landscape \u00a0between the centre of the site and the boundaries of existing properties along Priory Road would be preserved. The developers have also made known that a number of protected trees\u00a0 along the boundary with Cranbourne Road are likely to be removed.<\/p>\n

This development has occasioned 22 letters about this project being written by local residents.\u00a0\u00a0 The general feeling\u00a0 is that the Council has not fulfilled its promise to protect all the natural landscape on this site that was made during the planning discussions.\u00a0\u00a0 The greatest fear is that residents living along Cranbourne Road would be exposed excessively to the presence of\u00a0 the large residential\u00a0 blocks and leisure facilities of the new Winter Gardens complex together with\u00a0 excess noise and privacy reduction.\u00a0 Most seriously it was felt that the removal of many long protected trees would create a degradation of the existing urban environment which would reduce the attraction of the town centre for future visitors.<\/p>\n

The Society agrees fully with these anxieties\u00a0 and suggests that further urgent discussions take place between the Planning Department and the developers in order to ensure that as few trees as possible are removed from the Cranbourne Road boundary of the site. We think therefore that since this aspect of the overall Winter Gardens redevelopment scheme falls short of townscape policies within the Bournemouth Local Plan, the proposal should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.<\/p>\n

Cabbage Patch Car Park (St Stephen\u2019s Road) \u00a0Ref\u00a0 No\u00a0 7-2019-7755-B<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an application to construct a four storey block of 11 flats at subsidized prices for lower income groups by BCP Council.\u00a0 The new building would be constructed on the site of an existing car park at the end of St Stephen\u2019s Road.<\/p>\n

The square central section of the built foot print would have two short extension to the south and north and from this plan would arise a solid looking flat block in modernist style. The principal north west fa\u00e7ade would contain\u00a0 generally \u00a0symmetrically positioned vertical double\/triple windows, whereas \u00a0on the other two main elevations, there would be a great emphasis on triple French windows with glass balconies. Above would be a glass fronted, indented, penthouse storey.<\/p>\n

The Society cannot really say that it finds the design of the new structure especially original.\u00a0 It appears as a conventional flat block like so many that have appeared around Bournemouth in recent years.\u00a0 We do realize that financial constraints and the nearby presence of other blocks of flats has had an impact on the final design.\u00a0 Nevertheless we think that the window designs on the main fa\u00e7ades\u00a0 could be more harmoniously integrated\u00a0 into the general architectural appearance of the entire block. Therefore the Society has decided that since this proposal does not fully comply with the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan, it should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.<\/p>\n

13 Durley Road South \u00a0\u00a0Ref \u00a0No.7-2019-6344-V<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an application to build a five\/six storey block of 25 open market flats and six holiday flats on a vacant site within the West Cliff and Poole Hill Conservation area. Each of the four elevations consists of a combination of regularly positioned, lines of vertical windows interspersed with French windows giving access to glass balconies.\u00a0 There is penthouse story above with quite irregular fenestration.<\/p>\n

The Society can truly say that it has not\u00a0 come across such a crass and insensitive design for such an important\u00a0 site in central Bournemouth for a very long time.<\/p>\n