Agenda item - BH2018/03780-38A Upper Gardner Street, Brighton -Full Planning

Demolition of existing boundary wall and reconstruction of replacement wall.

RECOMMENDATION – GRANT

Ward Affected:St Peter’s & North Laine

Demolition of existing boundary wall and reconstruction of replacement wall.

              Officer Presentation

(1)          Planning Officer, Laura Hamlyn, introduced the application and gave a detailed presentation by reference to site plans, photographs and elevational drawings detailing the scheme. The Members were informed that part of the wall had been demolished on the advice of the Brighton & Hove City Council Building Control team for safety reasons. The applicant proposes to demolish the remainder of the boundary wall between the application site and the neighbouring properties fronting Queens Gardens, and to erect a replacement hollow brick wall along the same line and to the same height as the existing wall.

(2)          The main considerations in the determination of this application related to the principle of the proposed demolition, the impact of the proposed replacement wall on the character and appearance of the North Laine Conservation Area, and the impact on the neighbouring amenities.

              Public Speakers

(3)          Councillor Deane spoke as Ward Member for St Peter’s & North Laine. The Member highlighted that the application was in a Conservation Area and had proved divisive amongst residents. It was noted that the wall was a bungaroosh construction. The Member felt that the replacement wall should be the same or possibly flint, to be in-keeping with the area.

(4)          The agent, Ms Sheath spoke to the committee. The agent informed the committee that the wall had been partially demolished for Health & Safety reasons and the remaining wall was not stable. The new wall would be finished in painted render and would have limited views in this back land position. The impact is considered to be small with the new wall being safer than the existing.

Questions

(5)          Councillor Littman asked if flint was included in the existing wall.

(6)          It was confirmed that the current bungaroosh wall included flint.

(7)          Councillor Moonan asked how accessible the proposal site was.

(8)          It was noted that there are 5/7 houses backing onto the site.

(9)          Councillor Miller asked what the impact was on the neighbouring properties.

(10)       It was noted that the residents mostly felt the wall was ‘sound’ until this application on what is a narrow site.

(11)       Councillor Hyde who would see the replacement wall.

(12)       It was confirmed that the site was only visible to the neighbours.

(13)       Councillor Moonan asked if any flint would be involved in the construction from the old wall.

(14)       It was noted that not enough flint remained from the removed wall to include in the replacement.

(15)       Councillor Page asked if the wall was a Party Wall or shared ownership.

(16)       The Member was informed that it was a party wall.

Decision Making Process

(17)       The Committee voted: The 9 Members of the Committee who were present when the vote was taken voted 8 to 1 that planning permission e granted.

112.8    RESOLVED – That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the report and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to Conditions and Informatives also set out in the report and the additional information contained in the addendum including:

              Delete condition no.2 – The standard time condition is removed as the application is part retrospective, description amended to include part retrospective.