Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

of the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and
putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; the positive contribution
that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including
their economic vitality; and the desirability of new development making a positive
contribution to local character and distinctiveness. The NPPF goes on to state that local
planning authorities should also look for opportunities for new development within
conservation areas and within the setting of heritage assets to enhance or better reveal
their significance. It says that proposals that preserve those elements of the setting that
make a positive contribution to or better reveal the significance of the asset should be
treated favourably. The proposal uses the modular house design product known as
Rational House. Committee members may be aware of the approved Rational House
scheme for a single house in Biscay Road. The underlying aim of Rational House is to
provide high quality city dwellings at affordable costs. It is a modular design which has
been developed with flexibility to deal with a range of circumstances and demands. The
application site is located within the Lakeside, Sinclair, Blythe Road Conservation Area,
and occupies a plot of land within the Spring Vale estate. The site currently contributes
little to the conservation area and presents a poor aspect and physical environment,
consisting of parking spaces and single storey garages.
3.25 The surrounding area is primarily residential and is either in the form of
traditional Victorian two-storey terraces such as those along Ceylon Road and the west
side of Porten Road, or blocks of flats at four and six storeys such as Brangwyn Court at
four storeys, Elgar Court at six storeys and Porten House on the east side of Porten
Road at four storeys. The predominant character of the surrounding streets in the
conservation area is one of well- defined frontages where the residential properties
address the street. Currently the view along Porten Road is poorly enclosed by the site,
and terminated by the open hard surfaced area of the car park. Perimeter trees along
the site boundary to Ceylon Road are alone in providing some edge definition to the
street. There is an opportunity to reinstate an edge to the streets around the perimeter
of this plot with a new built form which respects the existing townscape, and would
thereby create a link between the residential streets and the residential estate, and
provide an enhancement to the street scene and conservation area. The demolition of
the single storey garage block (4 garages) is considered to be acceptable as it has
limited architectural quality and makes a neutral contribution to the character and
appearance of the area generally at this point (the reduction in the number of parking
spaces is a separate issue to be discussed later in the report).
3.26 The proposed scheme would reflect the built forms found in the surrounding
townscape and proposes a four storey block on the axis of the view along Porten Road,
which would provide good definition to the street edge with a consistent building scale,
and two two-storey houses are proposed along the Ceylon Road frontage, which would
respond to the terrace opposite. The proposed heights would reflect the prevailing
heights of the surrounding built form and along Ceylon Road the alignment would be set
back to allow for parking spaces and soft landscaping, including the retention of the
existing trees.
3.27 The Rational House concept allows for the roof space to be habitable and the
vertical circulation core is lower in height giving a varied massing to the street
elevations. The design of the facades would adopt the proportions and details evident
on surrounding buildings. A white masonry base and main rendered facade with white
masonry architraves to the upper windows which is particularly characteristic in the
surrounding townscape would be carried through to the proposed facades. The precise