Weymouth Civic Society

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WEYMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY -

PLANS SUB-COMMITTEE NEWS                    April 2013

THE OLD FIRE STATION SITE

Developers McCarthy & Stone have given the Plans Sub-Committee a second presentation of their proposal  for retirement apartments on the former Fire Station site on North Quay.  There are to be three storeys of living accommodation, with car parking on the ground floor of the building.  It is designed to recreate the feeling of Old Weymouth, giving the appearance of individual properties of varying character, fronting both North Quay and  High West Street.  We understand that a planning application is expected soon.  

GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILL - HOUSE EXTENSIONS

Civic Societies across the country are very concerned at the government's proposal to allow people to build long rear extensions to their properties without the need for planning permission.  Extensions projecting 6 m (20 feet) back from the house will be permitted on terraced or semi-detached properties, and 8 m (26 feet) on detached - fully double the current allowance.  This relaxation of the rules is supposed to last for a few years to help tackle the economic situation, but instead it is feared that there will be very damaging effects on the amenity of adjacent properties, resulting in bitter conflicts between neighbours, and causing great confusion in its operation.

The House of Lords has passed an amendment which would allow local authorities to opt out of this relaxation, but it now goes back to the Commons.  We have added our voice to the many

other Societies and individuals in writing to our two MPs urging them to vote for the amendment.

LAND ADJACENT TO PORTLAND BEACH ROAD (Plot Q)

We had been rather concerned at the proposed development by Portland Beach Road at the junction with the access road to the Sailing Centre, believing that great care should be taken in the siting and design of buildings on this important and very prominent site.   At the Council meeting  the application was approved, following discussion in which the quality of design  was stressed.  As this development proposal is at outline stage only, we can hope that a good outcome will follow when detailed designs are finalised.

ENZO'S, THE ESPLANADE

The planning application reported in the March Newsletter, proposing folding doors across the ground floor of this property has now been granted planning permission.   This involves the loss of a traditional panelled door, as well as the creation of a void on the ground floor of this Georgian terrace building, when the folding doors are open.

35 ST. MARY STREET - ALTERATIONS TO SHOPFRONT

There is a proposal to create a new shopfront on this important corner property.  There would be folding windows in a rather heavy, and we feel inappropriate, timber structure, replacing the simple glass windows.  We have concerns for the safeguarding of the fine curved window that rounds the corner of the building, in the reconstruction of the shopfront.

GOULDS GARDEN CENTRE

We  have written regarding a proposal for a car wash facility at the north-west corner of the car park.  We believe this would set an undesirable precedent for further non-related development.

NEW SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBER

We have welcomed to the Sub-Committee the Council's former Conservation Officer Colin Ellis, who has valuable experience and knowledge of the Borough's historic buildings and Conservation Areas.

Planning notes A

Prepared by the Civic Society planning committee