Latest News & Planning Applications - Winter 2007/2008

85-89A Railway Street

This original application covered the construction of five two-bedroom apartments over a commercial ground floor and basement car park on the site of the former petrol station, and subsequently second-hand car lot, the refurbishment of Nos 87 and 89 as four bedroom houses, and the demolition of 89A, former car showroom and workshop, and the building of two new two-bedroom houses in their place.

The principal new building on the corner of St John’s Street and Railway Street was of modern design using components that will provide levels of insulation exceeding current Building Regulation requirements. The two new houses are of more traditional design.

We registered no objection in principle to the proposed scheme, which we thought to be of appropriate mass and orientation, but we expressed some concern over the adoption of a flat roof given the proximity of pitched roofs on neighbouring buildings (even Rivière) and the prominence of the elevation in the view when approaching from the town-centre.

We also questioned whether A1 non-food retail, A2 or B1a financial/professional or A3 restaurant/prepared food sale use for the commercial area on the ground floor would be successful in this position.

The opportunity was taken to register our disquiet about the number to two-bedroom apartments being built (apparently in excess of the number in the Housing Needs Survey) and the latest marketing gimmick of providing en-suite bathrooms, but no separate kitchen space.

This application was withdrawn and subsequently replaced by one that excludes the prime corner site. As before, No 87 is totally refurbished, but now No 89 will be demolished and the space up to The Dolphin filled with two new houses in Victorian style. To the rear there will be a terrace of three houses in the same style, but with basements providing part of the living area.

We have no objections to these latest proposals (No 89 has been damaged beyond economic reuse by the previous insertion of the car showroom), and think they will provide an effective reuse of the site coupled with an attractive street elevation. The key interest remains, what will be placed on the corner of Railway Street and St John’s Street.

54 West Street

This dwelling is in one half of the former Westfield House.

The Society was particularly interested in what might normally be considered a ‘residential’ application because in 1994 it commissioned a survey of the house by Adrian Gibson and Alan Greening. This revealed a much earlier timber-framed building under the visible fabric and led to a rewriting of the entry in the schedule of listed buildings.

We objected to the proposed extension on the grounds that it would be out of scale with the remainder of the building and was only linked with the existing structure.

We suggested that the extra volume sought could be provided by an extension of similar style and proportions to that added on the other side elevation in the late 18th century.

84-86 and 88-96 Fore Street

No further objection was submitted when a revised application for 84-86 and 88-96 Fore Street was submitted because the restaurant and bar, the focus of our concern, had already received approval.

Other applications

The proposals for providing greater security for the war memorial, by providing guard rails, and the redevelopment of Nos.13-17 Old Cross were examined but it was thought no comment was needed.

TXU Site, Mead Lane

The new developer applied for a variation of the planning condition for car parking provision to enable deletion of the sub-basement car park from the scheme. The application was supported by a statement from a housing association citing likely vandalism and remoteness as major problems.

The Society objected to the proposal whereby all the decrease in parking spaces fell on the affordable housing element; we considered this discriminatory. The District Council agreed, so the developer returned with a proposal to share the shortfall equitably amongst the occupants and to provide, for a minimum of three years, an on-site car club scheme involving two cars. However, the application was still refused and the matter has gone to appeal.

Brickendonbury

The Malaysian High Commission submitted a scheme for demolishing three curtilage listed buildings in the grounds of the Rubber Research Centre and, as a first phase, the construction of a two storey building with basement for the training of elite Malaysian athletes in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It would also be used for subsequent international events in Europe. In addition it was planned to upgrade the existing football pitch to FIFA standards.

We submitted a strong objection on the grounds that, despite limited visual impact, the proposal did not satisfy the criteria in PPG2 for limited development in Green Belts, and that the citing of very special circumstances for permitting such development in this case is not well founded. Facilities for training athletes visiting for the 2012 Olympic Games will be available, both locally and in London, and approval would set a precedent for all the other participants.

We were also not persuaded by the arguments of benefit arising from availability to the local community, given prior demands on use of the facility and present difficulty of access, and to the economy of Hertford; athletes in training are highly unlikely to participate in the evening economy.

Our submission also supported local concerns over likely future applications for containment netting and floodlights for the upgraded football pitch.

The Development Control Committee refused the application.

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