Comments on planning applications from the meeting of 11th November
Planning Application W2009/ 0997 3 Market Place, Warwick.
Dear Ms Prince
Although this proposed air conditioning unit overlooks a service yard in Bowling Green Street there are flats above the premises in Market Street, our concern is that the residents may be disturbed by the continuous noise that some air conditioning units emit. We would ask that assurances and conditions are attached to any permission so that residents are not affected.
Planning Application W2009/1169
Dear Mr Beaumont
We wish to object to the proposal by Aldi to build a retail store on land near the junction of Queensway and Tachbrook Park Drive. In the Local Plan the site is designated on the Proposals Map as employment land and should be used for that purpose only. The proposal does not meet the criteria of Local Plan policy UAP3 (which seeks to direct retail development to town centres) at (a) in that there is not a proven retail need for the store when there is a similar store operating on the same trading principle about half a mile away. While the store may be within walking and cycling distance for employees it will be isolated from its customer catchment area and because the store caters for low price bulk purchasing the majority of customers will need to use a car to go shopping there. The store will not genuinely be accessible by public transport, cycling or walking and will not reduce the necessity of travelling by car contrary to policy UAP3 at (c) and (d). The siting of the store will reduce fairness by denying access to those who have no car. For these reasons we ask the Council to refuse planning permission for this application. Notwithstanding the above, if planning permission is granted, we would ask that it is with a condition that the store cannot commence trading until the employment units included in the application are ready for occupation.
Planning Application W2009/ 1255.88 Emscote Road, Warwick
Dear Mr Wallsgrove
We wish to object to this planning application to convert a former doctors surgery into a house in multiple occupation. A number of permissions for similar changes have been granted recently on this section of the Emscote Road and we are concerned that too many houses converted to this use, concentrated in one area, will degrade the character of the residential area. Allowing this application to proceed will have an unacceptable adverse effect on the amenity of nearby users contrary to Local Plan policy DP2. It is our view that the Council should establish a policy to limit the number of houses in multiple occupation permissible in one area. We ask the Council to refuse planning permission for this application.
Planning responses from 7th December 2009.
Planning Application W2009/1201 Alpha House, Warwick Technology Park,
Warwick.
Dear Ms Butler.
While we are not opposed to the expansion of these premises we are critical of the clumsy way it is proposed to carry itout and so losing the finesse of the original building. We see the large rectangular arched porch as much to heavy and out of scale with the building, and the design of the block of tiles supported on a slender column as inept. Local Plan policy DP1 Layout and Design at (e) calls for new development to enhance and incorporate important existing features into the development, it is our view that these proposals impose alien designs on the existing building and do not, as required at (g) adopt appropriate materials and details. We would ask that the Council refuse planning for this application in its present form and require that the design be revisited.
Planning Application W2009/ 1262 Warwick University Boathouse,
Barford Road, Warwick.
Dear Ms Butler
We are not opposed to the construction of a new riverside boathouse but wish to object to the use of steel for the roof which in our view introduces an industrial element into an exposed rural setting. Local Plan policy DP1 Layout and Design at (b) calls for development to relate to local topography and landscape features and at (g) the adoption of appropriate materials and details. While details of the proposed roof lights are not shown on the drawings, these should be selected and placed so as to create minimum impact on the setting of the building. The colour of the timber cladding is not specified and, again not to adversely impact on the setting, should be pressure treated in a dark colour similar to that used at the Motorway Maintenance Depot at Longbridge. We would ask the Council to refuse planning permission for this application in its present form.
Planning Application W2009/1317/1318LB 27 Smith Street, Warwick.
Dear Ms Butler.
Thank you for sending details of this development. We have examined the drawings and concluded that the proposals are not to the detriment of the listed building. We note that there is a new rooflight proposed which should be specified as the Conservation type which are less intrusive.
Planning Application W2009/ 1325Costa Coffee, 38-40 Market Street, Warwick.
Dear Ms Butler
We are totally opposed to the mounting of the inappropriate “Costa” signs on the walls of the former Woolworth premises. The Woolworth sign was placed on the wall at a time when the maintenance of the historic ambience of old Warwick was not considered to be of importance, it was also placed on the wall because the shop front was set back and its fascia masked by the forecourt. The forecourt is now to be taken into the premises with a result that the fascia is now aligned with the walls, any advertising signage should then be placed on the glazed panel above the doors.The proposed sign is too big and brash for the intimacy of an ancient market town and will have a serious adverse impact on the setting of the grade II listed Market Hall close by. Such a sign is intended to be read from a motorway or for premises located in industrial estate and so is out of place here. We note that the Costa coffee sign at Paddington Station is smaller and less intrusive in deference to the station’s status as a listed building, the sign proposed here should also defer to the Market Place which is designated as a Conservation Area and there should be no lettering on the walls.
The hanging signs proposed are too high and should be level with the new fascia above the doors, they should not be internally illuminated but should conform to the Council’s guidance on advertising and shopfronts in the Conservation Area.
We would ask the Council to refuse planning permission for this application in its present form.
Planning Application W2009/ 1327 Costa Coffee, 38-40 Market Street, Warwick.
Dear Ms Butler
We wish to object to the proposed billboard poster to be placed in enclosed forecourt of these premises. The poster will be visible from the Market Place and will intrude into the Conservation Area. The Local Plan seeks to protect Conservation Areas from such intrusions which do not enhance it and also to protect the setting of listed buildings such as the nearby County Museum which is listed Grade ll. Any signage should be confined to the advertisement of the nature of the business of the occupier. The Council should refuse planning permission for this application.
Planning Application W2009/13391 Market Street, Warwick
Dear Ms Prince.
These premises are designated in the Local Plan as being part of a Primary Retail Frontage where more than 25% of non A1 use was already taken up before the Costa Coffee application was approved. The change of use of No. 1 Market Street will increase the percentage of non A1 use even further contrary to Local Plan policies. The loss of retailing in Market Street reduces the vitality and footfall in that part of the town which is closest to the newly enhanced bus station and could lead to deterring visitors from exploring further. We would ask the Council to refuse planning permission for this application.
Planning Application W2009/ 1414 Unitarian Chapel, High Street, Warwick.
Dear Mr Wallsgrove
We appreciate that the inside of the boundary wall at the Unitarian Chapel was formerly rendered over rubble so it would seem reasonable to rebuild with concrete blocks and face the outside with stone. We would ask you to ascertain that the technique used to bond these two disparate materials is appropriate and that lime mortar is used, otherwise the repair may prove to be short lived. We would also ask you to satisfy yourself that the stone to be used will in fact fade in time to match neighbouring masonry.
