Agenda item

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Public Participation

Judy Howles spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Oubridge spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Tom Corbin spoke in objection to the application.

Cllr John Farquhar, on behalf of Salisbury City Council, spoke in support of the application.

Andrew Guest, Major Projects and Performance Manager, presented a report recommending permission be granted for demolition of the existing building at 30-36 Fisherton Street, currently used as retail and erection of new building for library, gym and 86 room hotel.

Key issues included the design of the proposed new building, the sustainable economic benefits of the proposal, and the character of the area. Following its approval under the last agenda item, the Maltings and Central Car Park, Salisbury Masterplan, was a significant consideration. Overall, the view of the planning officer was that the proposal was compliant with policy, the impact of the design was neutral or even beneficial compared to the existing building, the character of the area was a mixture of styles, and the height of the building met the exception test to exceed the skyline policy, with no harm to views to and from the cathedral and delivering wider economic benefits.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions. Details were sought on drainage and materials.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to put their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

Councillor Atiqul Hoque, Salisbury St Edmund and Milford Division, then made a statement. He noted the concerns expressed over the design, but also the economic benefits and that the Civic Society had supported the proposals.

The Committee then debated the application. It was stated that the proposal was the first phase of the Maltings and Central Car Park regeneration, and that there were significant economic benefits to the development. It was also noted that the design had been amended, following which the City Council had changed its view from opposing to supporting the proposal. However, other members considered the design of the building unacceptable, and that particularly for the first phase of the regeneration it was not appropriate for the area. The views of the Conservation officer were noted, and it was discussed whether the design was harmful to the character of the area, and if this was outweighed by the economic benefits.

A motion to approve the application in accordance with the officer recommendation, having been moved by Councillor Derek Brown OBE and seconded by Councillor Andrew Davis, was voted upon and lost.

A motion to refuse the application as contrary to Core Policies 57 and 58 in relation to the design was then moved by Councillor Graham Wright, seconded by Councillor James Sheppard. At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

The proposed development, by reason of its form, bulk and design, would detract from the character and appearance of established development in the locality, notably in Fisherton Street, neither conserving nor enhancing its status as a conservation area and neither conserving nor enhancing the setting of nearby listed buildings. In particular, the bulk and design of the proposal, which is effectively two joined 'blocks' with limited roof articulation and with large and principally uniform / flat facades of considerable size, does not reflect the human scale and rich architectural detail which is otherwise a characteristic of Fisherton Street and Salisbury in general. This is particularly apparent in important contextual conservation area views of the site - along Fisherton Street and Malthouse Lane. The design, and notably the bulk of the proposal, would also result in a development which would insensitively compete with nearby listed public and former public buildings - notably the United Reformed Church and the General Infirmary, to the detriment of their significance and settings.

The proposal is, therefore, contrary to Core Policy 57 (Ensuring high quality design and place shaping) and Policy 58 (Ensuring the conservation of the historic environment) of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.