The Working Party will receive a presentation from Code Development Planners acting on behalf of Gurteen’s.
Note: Members of the Working Party, who are also Members or Substitute Members of the Development Control Committee that may consider any subsequent planning applications in respect of this area, are reminded of the desirability of avoiding the appearance of bias and predetermination in what they say about the matter.
Minutes:
The Working Party received and noted a presentation from Michael Carpenter of Code Development Planners, and Chris Surfleet of Alliance Planning, both acting on behalf of Gurteen’s. The presentation set out the Design Principles for the regeneration of the Chauntry Mills site.
Members noted that in June 2010, the Council adopted a development brief for the development of Gurteen’s former factory site, Chauntry Mills. The majority of the buildings on the site were listed, however it was proposed that some of the properties of less or moderate historical importance on the site would need to be demolished to enable a marketable and viable joined-up scheme to be achieved.
In mid 2013, a planning application for the demolition of the majority of the buildings was submitted. Those categorised by English Heritage as being of high significant importance, namely the Gothic-style building and the Weaving Shed, would be retained, with the other buildings being demolished in sections whilst improvements were made to those retained.
The purpose of the Design Principles document was to set out potential future uses for the space where buildings on the site would potentially be demolished and to provide an overarching vision for the site as a whole. Potential uses for the site would be mixed, which was in accordance with its allocation in Haverhill Vision 2031.
Following consultation and subject to English Heritage being satisfied with its content, the Design Principles would be submitted in support of the planning application (and would also inform future planning applications for the site), which was hoped to be considered by the Development Control Committee in early 2015.
The presentation included reference to the following, as contained in the Design Principles document:
(a) the current timeline for activity on the site which spanned from January 2009 to December 2014;
(b) Layout Plans of the existing site;
(c) Site Assessment – putting the site in context;
(d) photographs of the existing site;
(e) the relationships between building heights, taking into account the landmark role of the principal property (the Gothic-style building);
(f) potential land uses (mixed use);
(g) Morphology – how the site had evolved over time;
(h) Access and Movement – how to potentially achieve better pedestrian movement and vehicular access;
(i) Townscape Appraisal – the physical characteristics of the site;
(j) Opportunities Plan – how the site could be redeveloped and potential access routes;
(k) Development Area – a plan of the area available for redevelopment and proposed movement and access;
(l) Building Heights – proposals 2/3/4 storey;
(m) considerations to be taken into account to make the re-use of the retained buildings as flexible as possible;
(n) Development Scenarios – options for new buildings and how they might integrate with the two retained buildings;
(o) Design Vision – the creation of traditional forms and use of appropriate materials; and
(p) Heritage and Public Benefits – a list of benefits of how the options would support the demolition of the buildings categorised as no, low or of moderate importance.
A detailed discussion was held which indicated that the Working Party was largely in support of the proposals. Mr Carpenter responded to questions raised, which included the following topics:
(a) vehicular access to and from the site during the demolition period, which would be over a phased period of time;
(b) whether access could be achieved through the existing wall directly next to the car park;
(c) loss of buildings categorised as low or moderate importance;
(d) the preparation of a method statement, which would address how the demolition would be carried out;
(e) the timeframe for the redevelopment, which would largely be dependent on the market;
(f) consideration of potential overlooking and provision of car parking if residential use was to be implemented;
(g) how the site would remain in use to a degree during the demolition period, as Gurteen’s would still make use of property for office space and warehousing. The site would not therefore be boarded up;
(h) whether a major retailer would be attracted to the site;
(i) the commerciality and viability of potential proposals coming forward; and
(j) potential rents for the buildings.
(Councillor Clifton-Brown and Colin Poole, Haverhill Town Council Clerk arrived during the consideration of this item.)