WEB NEWS - 31st MARCH 2004

CgMs SUCCESS

Hearing Centre For Asylum Seekers, Columbus House, Newport, Wales
Acting on behalf of the Court Service, an executive agency of the Department of Constitutional Affairs, CgMs have obtained permission from the National Assembly for Wales for the change of use of an office building to a 9 court hearing centre (mainly for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected) on a business park at Langstone, Newport.

As Crown Development, planning permission could not be applied for, and it was necessary to follow the notification procedure set down in Welsh Circular 37/84. Well organised local residents campaigned for the proposal to be rejected. Despite a recommendation from Planning Officers that no objection be raised, Newport City Council objected on the basis of the loss of a prestige office unit and inappropriate use on a prestige business park.

Under Circular 37/84 the Court Service referred the proposal to the National Assembly for Wales who arranged a non-statutory public inquiry. This follows, but is not bound by the regulations concerning statutory public inquiries. The Chief Inspector for Wales was appointed to hear the case and make a recommendation to the Assembly.

At the outset, he identified five issues for debate in addition to the Council’s reason for objection. Perhaps the most important of these was the sustainability of the site, given its out of centre location near to the M4 motorway. Evidence was produced by the Court Service which showed that the level of traffic would be less than the authorised use and that concentrating facilities at the new Hearing Centre rather than using a number of satellite courts as is currently the case, would also result in travel reductions. An interesting tenant of the whole case was the Inspector’s view that it was not necessary for the Court Service to demonstrate that Columbus House was necessarily the best location for the proposed use.

The Inspector recommended that the development proceed and this recommendation was accepted by a 4 person Planning Decision Committee of the Assembly. This was specially established to determine the case and other proposed developments by local authorities in Wales at the time.

For further information on this project, please contact Chris Hicks (chris.hicks@cgms.co.uk).

No Need for Affordable Housing
In Cardiff, CgMs advised London and County Estates when they were faced with a requirement for affordable housing. Proposals for conversion of a Listed Building and a new build block had been resubmitted to address design issues and, at that late stage in the planning process, emerging policies were used to add a requirement for affordable housing. CgMs presented a case based of the status of the draft policy and the economic implications of the requirement and planning permission has now been granted without a requirement for affordable housing.

For further information on this project, please contact Malcolm Honour (malcolm.honour@cgms.co.uk).

Banana Split Success
Planning permission was granted on 10th March 2004 for the change of use of a warehouse building to an office for Banana Split Productions Ltd - a television and video production company. The warehouse stands on Rushgrove Avenue within the London Borough of Barnet. Work on changing the use of the building is expected to start in the near future.

For further information on this project, please contact John Brooks (john.brooks@cgms.co.uk)

London Plan (93k)

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Oval Cricket Ground
The historic building team has undertaken a comprehensive record of the Vauxhall End Stands at this high-profile ground, on behalf of Surrey County Cricket Club and Drivers Jonas. The viewing stands are due for demolition and redevelopment and our record presented a final opportunity to understand the fabric, form and historical development of these structures for local and national interest.

For further information on this project please contact Jon Lowe (jon.lowe@cgms.co.uk) or Ignatius Froneman
(Ignatius.froneman@cgms.co.uk)

Rockingham Wind Farm, Layer Marney
National Wind Power Ltd are proposing a multi-turbine Wind Farm in the Essex countryside and have engaged CgMs’ historic building team to assess the potential impacts such a project would have on the surrounding area. Falling into a designated
countryside conservation area, the proposed site also neighbours several nearby listed buildings including a Grade I Listed Building and a Grade II Registered Historic Park and Garden. CgMs is currently advising the client and their design team towards the most successful path and if approved, the Wind Farm would become the first of its kind in the East of England.

For further information on this project please contact Tina Garratt (tina.garratt@cgms.co.uk)

40-42 Stoke Road, Guildford
CgMs provided a Conservation Area Statement on behalf of Barratt Southern Counties, in response to the reason for refusal of planning permission at the above site. The CgMs report specifically addressed the impact of the development on the adjacent Guildford Town Centre conservation area, considering character, setting and skyline. Our research concluded that the redevelopment of this site would enhance this aspect of the conservation area, causing no or few adverse effects. Subsequent to the historic buildings team’s advice, the revised scheme was approved and the 13 residential flats with their associated car parking and landscaping are to be erected.

For further information on this project please contact Jonathan Edis (jonathan.edis@cgms.co.uk)