The Norwich Society Planning Appraisal Committee

PLANS INSPECTED AND REPORTED TO THE MEETING
14 August 2008 

08/00695/L   10 Heigham Grove
Demolition of existing greenhouse/conservatory and construction of new greenhouse/conservatory and potting area.
  An improvement, much more in keeping with the house.

08/00718/L   Pigg Lane/Palace Street
Alteration to 1-2 St Martin-at-Palace Plain and works to facilitatelink to new three storey office.
PAC are disappointed that the proposed building attempts to relate to the main Palace Street development instead of acknowledging the architecture of St Martins at Palace Plain. An effort could have been made to echo the gables of the buildings to be demolished, and which feature on the Wig and Pen public house and on the timber-framed Tudor building on the corner which is being incorporated into the scheme, by producing a glazed gabled façade to the Plain.

08/00722/F   Armes Street
Erection of 8 No thrfee-bedroom townhouses with associated access and parking.  
A bland overdevelopment of the site. Another opportunity is being lost to architecturally enrich this residential area.

08/00743/F   Duke Street, Foremr Eastern Eelectricity Site
Demolition of buildings and structures at Duke Street (excluding elements of Boardman buildings) and construction of A2/B1A offices, A3 restaurant/cafes, A1 retail floorspace, D1 Art Gallery and 16 residential dwellings comprising 5 No Townhouses and 11 No. Apartments with  underground car and cycle parking. 
   We believe the present scheme has recognised past criticisms and as a result is very acceptable. The accompanying description of the work and use of the model is to be applauded.
We do have some concern over the abrupt change of scale on Duke Street between the Boardman building and the new construction, which also includes a change in proportion of the fenestration.

08/00736/F   38 Rose Valley
Demolish lean-to at rear of kitchen.  Replace with new lean-to to incorporate larger kitchen plus shower room.  Erection of new lean-to at front of premises to incorporate larger lounge and provision of porch entry plus internal works.
   A neat little scheme, with useful accompanying photographs, but a little confusion about front windows in the plans; they are shown as Victorian-style sashes on the drawings, whereas in the photos the present windows are unpleasant 70s replacements. Presumably these are to be replaced?

08/00682/F   Paston House  11-13 Princes Street
Demolition of part of roof and replace with new mansard roof to extend office area plus alterations to front elevation.
While the scheme is an improvement to a dire elevation, it could be even better.

08/00633/F   Viking Venture Scout Hut, 420 Dereham Road
Redevelopment of site to provide a block 9 No. apartments and associated parking and access.
 A dire scheme  which is totally unimaginative and certainly will not enhance the street scene.

08/00753/F   Chiswick House 3 Christchurch Road
Extensions and alterations to rear of existing premises to form new elderly care facilities.
 This re-application was presented with very little information; in what way has it changed? There are still conflicting design styles, and this plan represents a gross overdevelopment of the site.

08/00778/A   103 Oak Street
Display of: - 1) Internally illuminated high level name sign with logo; 2) Non-illuminated fascia welcome sign; 3) Externally illuminated free standing ‘pub style’ sign; 4) Internally illuminated built up logo sign at fascia level.
This scheme is a total eyesore, where the advertisements are the façade. Garish and vulgar.

08/00632/L   The Maid’s Head Hotel, 20 Tombland
                        Reduce height of damaged chimney stack.
Why is this chimney not being repaired? This is a listed building.

08/00771/L   Old Bishops Palace, Norwich School
                        Demolition of chimney and rebuilding to match the existing.
We are pleased to note that this is being done properly, unlike the above application

08/00782/L   7 The Close
Refurbishment works and internal alterations to widen opening, create new doorway and taking down of partition walls.
A reasonable rationalisation in use of the property.

08/00790/L   St Peter Hungate Church, Princes Street
Removal of partition and ceiling from base of tower; addition of stone guards to protect medieval glass in two windows; removal of redundant fixing and preparations for redecoration of internal walls; improved access arrangements for wheelchair access.
It is good to see the church being used and sensitively improved.

08/00647/F    Land West of and Forming part of 500 Earlham Road
Demolition of existing garage and erection of detached dwelling.
 This is an absolute disaster. A semi loses its double garage and an awful detached dwelling is squeezed in; terrible 30s look complete with bull’s eye in the gable! There is an issue of building density; this sets a very bad precedent in Earlham Road.

08/00788/L   Public convenience, St Andrew’s Plain: 

 We totally object to the misuse of what should be a public toilet, because it necessitates the destruction of a decent flint and brick screen wall. There will be inevitable damage to the contents and fittings of this listed building due to the constant movement of large four-wheeled skips. What would improve the appearance is the installation of the nice new door, which would inhibit fly-posting and revive this notable building.