Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 January 2015 (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).

The minutes of the meeting held on 5^th January 2015 were confirmed and signed.

To receive apologies for absence.

Where a Member of the Committee is unable to attend a meeting, a substitute Member from the same Area Planning Committee may attend, speak and vote in their place for that meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brian Adams, Julia Potts, Stewart Stennett and John Ward. Councillors Jim Edwards and Nick Holder attended as substitutes.

To receive from Members declarations of interests in relation to any items included on the Agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

Proposed Development

Listed Building Consent for demolition of the attached Redgrave Theatre, conversion of Brightwell House to form 2no. restaurant units.  Works to include single/two storey extensions to the north and west (containing additional ground floor restaurant space, kitchen areas, stores, toilets, staircase and plant room and first floor kitchens, stores, staff WC and plant room). Works to existing house to include reinstatement of 3no. original hipped roofs and roof light to the north elevation and hipped roofs over the existing bay windows and reinstatement of the glazed canopy in the southern elevation. Reinstatement of original chimneys, internal fireplaces and staircase. Partial unblocking of a first floor window on the west elevation. Removal of later partition walls and ground floor toilet; new openings through to first floor extension, installation of servery. Some blocking in of existing internal openings. Demolition of boundary walls, toilet block and cottage at  Brightwells House, Brighwells Road,  Farnham, GU9 7SB

Recommendation

That, subject to conditions, listed building consent  be GRANTED

Listed Building Consent for demolition of the attached Redgrave Theatre, conversion of Brightwell House to form 2no. restaurant units.  Works to include single/two storey extensions to the north and west (containing additional ground floor restaurant space, kitchen areas, stores, toilets, staircase and plant room and first floor kitchens, stores, staff WC and plant room). Works to existing house to include reinstatement of 3no. original hipped roofs and roof light to the north elevation and hipped roofs over the existing bay windows and reinstatement of the glazed canopy in the southern elevation. Reinstatement of original chimneys, internal fireplaces and staircase. Partial unblocking of a first floor window on the west elevation. Removal of later partition walls and ground floor toilet; new openings through to first floor extension, installation of servery. Some blocking in of existing internal openings. Demolition of boundary walls, toilet block and cottage at  Brightwells House, Brightwells Road,  Farnham, GU9 7SB (as amplified by letter dated 22/12/2014)

The Chairman introduced the Officers present and referred Members to the proposed order of business for the meeting.

With reference to the report circulated with the agenda, Officers presented a summary of the planning history of the site, and the current plans and proposals. Officers showed pictures of the site and plans for the application. Members were advised that the principle of the proposed works and demolition had been established by the previous consent WA/2011/1215. The Historic Buildings Officer had advised that the proposal would satisfactorily preserve the character, appearance and setting of the Listed Buildings and it would not cause harm to the significance of the heritage asset. Members were advised that a further letter had been received from English Heritage clarifying that its original letter did not constitute a formal objection to the scheme, but set out its position and offered some general advice. The original letter recognised the significant benefit of bringing back into use a vacant and vulnerable Grade II listed building. In consideration of the responses from consultees, consideration of national and Waverley’s own planning policies, It was the officers view that the scheme should be supported subject to the conditions and an informative detailed in the report.

Officers outlined the matters of principle/technical judgement and those matters of judgement and advised members of information received following the agenda being published and detailed in the update sheet. This included a further 15 representations but these did not raise any additional material considerations. The Committee was advised that the loss of the theatre use was established by planning permission WA/2012/0912. The principle of the loss of a use/facility was not a matter material to the assessment of a Listed Building application and the planning permission remained extant under WA/2012/0912.

Following the officers presentation and before the Committee debated the application, in accordance with the guidance for public participation at meetings, each party was given the opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes. The following people spoke to the application:

Objectors

Dr Laurence Carter

Farnham  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.