The application for a residential and commercial development at 14, 16, 20, 24, 26 Beaverhall Road has at last received full planning consent (Ref. 11/03374/FUL).
Springfield Properties and MD and RG Rutterford propose 80 dwelling spaces, 288 sq.m. commercial floorspace, and new roads and infrastructure.
The New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) was broadly in favour of early plans when they first appeared in a preapplication exhibition and subsequent NTBCC meeting in summer 2011 (Breaking news, 28.7.11). The applicant even wrote to the NTBCC in October saying it intended few if any changes.
But when the completed plans were submitted for planning permission in late October, significant changes had been made. These included:
- a loop road through the site which could have encouraged dangerously fast driving
- the existing tenement at No. 18 (pictured) not being properly integrated into the design and potentially being overlooked by a newly encroaching block
- two other blocks on either side of the tenement having increased in height and now to rise above it, ruining the ‘robust street frontage’ suggested in the developer’s ‘Design and Access Statement’
- drastic reduction of the landscaped and ‘strongly designed central space’ initially envisaged by the developer
- no uptake of NTBCC’s suggested children’s play area.
All this required a swift response by NTBCC’s planning convener John Knight, who expressed strong disappointment at the unexpected turn of events. However, his cogent objections (see first pdf below) helped prompt Springfield's withdrawal of its application (Ref. 06/02579/FUL) in December 2011.
When a revised scheme was submitted, it became clear that NTBCC had secured important concessions regarding building height and open space.
This version was initially approved by the Planning Subcommittee on 4 July 2012 (see second pdf), subject to appropriate conditions (including an £81,200 financial contribution for public realm improvements) and legal agreements with the Council. Following completion of these, the plans were finally approved this week (see last pdf below).
However, that's not the end of the story. The handling of this case (and others like it) has had serious implications for the planning process and local democracy. Spurtle will return to the subject soon.