Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The Chair invited Councillor Moore to speak under Standing Order No. 44, who made reference to:

·        the site being of significant historic importance and of ongoing public interest;

·        she enquired on the expected timescale for delivery of the redevelopment, given that the developer had referred to the timelines from the previous committee stage;

·        having a reputable developer with heritage experience was welcomed, but emphasised the need for clarity on public expectations; and

·        a timescale was needed on record and sought confirmation on when works were likely to commence and complete.

No Member questions were raised for Councillor Moore.

The Chair confirmed there were no public speakers registered to speak on the item.

The Principal Project Manager – Development Managementpresented the application for the redevelopment of the Royal Clarence, to include 25 new residential dwellings on the upper floors with part residential on the ground and part basement floor and commercial on the remaining ground and basement floor as a public house and restaurant.

Members received a presentation which included:

·        the application was for ground floor commercial units for a public house and restaurant, and 25 residential apartments above, creating a five and six storey mixed development use;

·        the applicants had submitted an updated phasing plan (Condition 4), which was found to be acceptable and would limit heritage harm;

·        the phasing schedule outlined when works were expected to commence and complete on the site;

·        a previous consent was granted for a similar scheme with ground floor commercial use and flats above, with a similar external appearance;

·        the current proposal included revised internal layouts, including a repositioned stair core, altered internal walls, larger lightwells and updated heritage considerations;

·        the site was a Grade II listed building, surrounded by multiple high-value heritage assets and was located within a central conservation and archaeologically sensitive area;

·        the buildings current condition was poor, having suffered fire damage, structural deterioration and water ingress;

·        the proposed apartments met national space standards and offered acceptable resident amenities and the development would be car free; and

·        the development would use obscured glazing, screening and noise controls to ensure there were no significant amenity impacts to neighbours.

The Principal Heritage Officer advised:

·        he had visited the site repeatedly over the past six years, and his most recent visit he noted the extent of degradation and that the building was unsafe;

·        specialists now understood how and why the structure was moving, and how it could be remedied;

·        Heritage officers and historic specialists had worked closely with the developer in recent weeks to accelerate solutions and the proposed scheme was considered acceptable;

·        the developers could deliver a suitable resolution and urged Members to grant permission so work could begin as soon as possible; and

·        he would be closely involved throughout construction, providing advice and monitoring to ensure the heritage fabric was properly protected.

The Principal Project Manager – Development Management advised:

·        the Heritage impacts were of significant consideration, and officers and specialists had undertaken extensive discussions throughout the project;

·         the upper floors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56