Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Councillor Ricky Rogers, who was substituted by Councillor John Wells.

It was also noted that Councillor Brian Dalton had been delayed. He joined the meeting at the Officer presentation for item 7.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 17 April 2025 (As attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 17 April 2025 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were none.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman confirmed that all members of the Committee had received the mandatory planning training for 2025.

The Chairman went on to explain the meeting procedure to the members of the public.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register no later than 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. If it is on the day of the meeting registration should be done in person.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are linked to in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application, and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered.

Members of the public and others will have had the opportunity to make representations on planning applications and other items on the agenda, and to contact and lobby their local elected member and any other members of the planning committee, prior to the meeting.

Those circulating such information prior to the meeting, written or photographic, are advised to also provide a copy to the case officer for the application or item, in order to officially log the material as a representation, which will be verbally summarised at the meeting by the relevant officer, not included within any officer slide presentation if one is made. Circulation of new information which has not been verified by planning officers or case officers is also not permitted during the meetings.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 5 June 2024, in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 9 June 2024. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate.

The committee received details of the appeal decisions as detailed in the agenda.

It was;

Resolved:

To note the Appeals Report

Extensions and internal and external alterations to the Grade II Listed hotel, including diversification of the existing class C1 hotel use involving redevelopment of the existing 22-bedroom hotel into a 13 suite 5-star, luxury hotel with bar, restaurant, courtyard garden and rooftop terrace bar.

Public Participation

Mr Adam Bennett (Agent) spoke in support of the application

Ms Lucy Beck (Chamber of Commerce) spoke in support of the application

Mr Brian Currie (Larasian Ltd) spoke in support of the application

Supplement 1 - Presentation slides

Supplement 2 - Appendix 1 to the Officer report, Conservation Officer Comments

A site visit had been held for the Committee, prior to the meeting, earlier in the day.

The Senior Planning Officer, Joe Richardson introduced a report which recommended that the application for extensions and internal and external alterations to the Grade II Listed hotel including diversification of the existing Class C1 hotel use involving redevelopment of the existing 22-bedroom hotel into a 13 suite 5-star, luxury hotel with bar, restaurant, courtyard garden and rooftop terrace bar be Refused.

An update was provided in relation to a response from a statutory consultee, which noted that Salisbury Civic Society no longer objected to the facade of the building.

Key details stated in the report included the principle of development and impact of the works to the character and appearance of the area and significance of the designated Conservation Area/Listed Buildings/settings/historic fabric, Archaeology Impacts, Amenity considerations, Flooding and Drainage, Highway considerations, and Ecological Impact including the River Avon SAC/nutrient neutrality/New Forest SPA.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officer. Clarity was sought on the height of the proposals for the rooftop bar, where it was confirmed that the proposed development would result in a structure 3.3m over the 40ft ruling as specified in CP22.

Clarity was provided on reference to Core Policy 22: Salisbury Skyline and to ‘CP22 in the Local Plan review 2023 (pre-submission draft)’ as detailed on page 4 of Supplement 2, of the Conservation Officer response. The Officer clarified that the referenced to CP22 Salisbury Skyline, in the existing Wiltshire Core Strategy was also being put forward as a planning policy in the Local Plan Review, which was currently being examined. The Officer advised that CP22 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy was the relevant policy to use currently.

The Officer noted that he had considered the Conservation Officer comments against the Economic comments and had made a balanced judgement that the application should be refused.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the committee as detailed above.

The Unitary Division Member, Councillor Paul Sample then spoke in support of the application, noting the long history the Cathedral Hotel had had within the city.

He went on to highlight the changes to the nighttime economy over the last five years and how such changes had negatively impacted hotels and businesses across the city, with the Grade 2 listed building being vacant and in decline for some years.

Cllr Sample stated that the £10m investment into the sensitive renovation of the local landmark would bring a valuable asset back into use. The Spitfire bar planned for the rooftop would be a tribute to wartime workforce that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency 

There were no urgent items