Agenda item

Public participation

Alex Robinson, the agent, spoke in support to the application.

Jonathan Bourne, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, spoke in support to the application.

The Senior Conservation Officer, Caroline Ridgwell, introduced a report which recommended refusing planning permission for the replacement of UPVC windows, replacement of damaged lintels and rebuilding of front wall above windows. Attention was drawn to the late list of observations provided at the meeting and attached to these minutes including updates and clarifications. Jon Avent, Mann Williams CARE registered Structural Engineer, provided detailed advice as to structural matters in a heritage asset impact context.

Key issues highlighted included principle of the works, impact on significance of the heritage asset and impact on setting of the heritage assets.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions

of the officer which focused on: the structural harm of the proposal; whether strengthening is necessary; the use of lintol and the impact on heritage assets.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee, as

detailed above.

Cllr Chris Hurst, Division Member, spoke regarding the application with the main points focusing on investment in the high street; the use of lintol and health and safety concerns.

The Senior Conservation Officer and the external consultant then addressed some of the issues raised by members of the Committee and the public with the main points focusing on the brickwork, the use of lintols and health and safety concerns. Area team Leader, Lee Burman, confirmed the formal positon of Building Conntrol North Team in respect of the proposals and structural matters as set out in the late list of observations.

At the start of the debate a proposal was moved by Cllr Tony Trotman, seconded by Cllr Toby Sturgis, to refuse planning permission as detailed in the report.

During the debate the main points raised were the weight that should be given to the judgement of experts on the matter, whether strengthening is necessary and the impact on heritage assets.

Resolved

That planning permission is refused in accordance with the Officer recommendation as detailed in the report and set out below:

The proposed works to the lintol over the two first floor windows on the front elevation would harm the special historic interest and significance of the heritage assets due to the intrusive nature of the works and introduction of unsympathetic details and materials. The degree of strengthening is excessive and will create two areas of overly rigid masonry that will not move with the rest of the building. Furthermore, removing the recently rebuilt sections of brickwork above the two first floor windows will result in unnecessarily disturbing historic material that has only recently been rebuilt. The proposed works would be contrary to Section 16(2) of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 and NPPF section 16 paras 189, 192, 193, 194, 196 and 200, and the BS7913, as well as Wiltshire Core Strategy (Jan 2015) CP57 (i), (iv) & CP58 and Policy 7 of the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan.