Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

This document highlights important principles in designing inclusive buildings and open
spaces. Paragraph 1.9 states that 'high quality and inclusive design should apply to all
development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider
development schemes. This creates an environment that functions well and is
accessible to everyone'.
4.22 The Local Plan Policy DM G1 (Design of New Build) discusses the design
requirements of new proposals with the compatibility of new development with the scale
and character of the existing development to be of considerable importance. It adds
that designs need to respect the local design context, including the prevailing rhythm
and articulation of frontages within the area. Policy DM G3 (Alterations and Extensions)
requires that the development should be successfully integrated into the existing
architectural design, with the impact on scale, mass and vertical/horizontal emphasis to
be of particular design importance. Policy DM G7 (Heritage and Conservation) states
that the council will aim to protect, restore or enhance the quality, character,
appearance and setting of the borough's conservation areas.
4.23 The proposals have been prepared in consultation with design officers at LBHF
with the intention of creating a seamless extension to the existing roof level office box
above the shopping centre on the eastern side. It is considered that the extended office
box would sit comfortably within the existing form of the centre and its surroundings.
4.24 A comprehensive Design and Access Statement is submitted in support of the
Application and demonstrates the design merits of the proposals by way of a
photomontage showing the scheme in context with the existing building with and without
the consented leisure and retail scheme. The roof level extension comprises a
continuation of the existing Net-a-Porter office box. It has been designed to take into
consideration the existing scale and massing of the centre, other roof level
enlargements such as the Vue Cinema box (on the northern part of the roof adjacent to
the Dimco building) and the scale and height of the proposed retail and leisure
extension above M&S on the north eastern corner.
4.25 Visually, the proposed Net-a-Porter offices combined with the proposed leisure and
retail extension will fill-in existing gaps in the elevations between the existing Net a
Porter office space on the eastern elevation and the existing Vue cinema box on the
northern elevation. It is considered that the proposed office extension would closely
relate to the scale and appearance of the existing Net-a-Porter office structure and the
form of the façade has been articulated to reference this relationship.
4.26 The existing height of the two storey office block occupied by Net-a-Porter is
38.95m AOD. This existing building height will be mirrored by the height of the proposed
roof extension. The existing roof height at the location of the proposed extension is
currently 28.65m AOD and therefore this proposal will increase the height of the centre
in this location by 10.3m. The proposed roof extension will infill the existing gap in the
elevation between Net-a-Porter offices and the proposed retail and leisure unit above
Marks and Spencer' in the north-east corner.
4.27 The proposed extension will complete the eastern elevation through a seamless
extension to the existing office block which will also complement its massing and
articulation. Due consideration has been given to the surrounding area and in particular
the relationship between the proposed roof extension and the proposed retail and
leisure development to the north.