Planning application reference 25/14260/F – Change of use from office and medical/health services (Class E) to student accommodation.
The Society supports the principle of reusing the existing structure and converting it for student housing. This makes sense as it will retain an attractive building and will significantly reduce the carbon cost associated with demolition and reconstruction.
The Society is pleased to note that, following pre-application advice, proposals for an upward extension have been removed from the proposed plans. These would have had very negative impacts both on the building itself and on the setting of nearby heritage assets.
However, the current proposals for replacement glazing and window frames are not considered acceptable as these would fundamentally change the external glazed façade and would undermine the architectural integrity of the existing building.
In the Society’s view more research is needed in order to identify a more appropriate colour palette for the glazing. Unless such a solution can be identified we recommend that the current proposal be refused.
Simon Birch