The following details arose from the pre-planning application meeting at McDonald Rd Library on 22 March. For locals' initial reactions see Issue 181. Plans can be viewed by clicking on the pdf below.
Architects Hackland + Dore's proposed development would face out onto McDonald Road, McDonald Street, McDonald Place, and Bellevue Rd: 2, 3 and 4-bedroom flats; plus some ground-floor commercial units on McDonald Rd.
Elevations: 5-storey on McDonald Road; 5-storey on the corner of McDonald Street and Road, then stepping down through 4-storey to 3-storey; 2-storey on McDonald Place, but with some penthouse flats above that; and 4-storey on Belllevue Road.
Materials: McDonald Road – sandstone, the rest brick; and a fair amount of zinc and galvanized steel involved too. There would be a central residents’ courtyard with car parking, communal garden space, and ‘a raised amenity deck’ with a mix of private and shared gardens – with pedestrian access to the courtyard from each street through secure gates, and from every stairwell.
Parking: 30 internal, off-street spaces, and 41 on-street – including existing ones, and spaces for City Car Club.
Proposed percentages of each size of flat: around 50% for 2-bedroom, 25% for 1-bedroom and 25% for 3-bedroom; the commercial units could be offices or non-food retail, but former more likely.
Work on site not likely to start before late 2011, with houses not on sale for at least 18 months after that.
A second opportunity to to view the plans and question the architects will occur at 7.15 pm on 12 April in the Garden Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent. A New Town and Broughton Community Council meeting will follow immediately afterwards.
Public meetings are scheduled for tonight (Nelson Hall, McDonald Rd Library, 6.30pm) and 12 April (Garden Room, Broughton St Mary's Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent, 7.15pm) to discuss pre-planning application proposals for 130 McDonald Rd.
However, you can view the designs up close and in detail from the discomfort of your own home by clicking on the pdf below.
It will still be worth attending the public meetings since they both involve Community Councils and will be an effective way to channel individual opinions into concerted action if necessary. We'll report further on this story in Issue 181 (April).