NEWSLETTER 14 October 2003 Date set for Judicial Review News on the latest Planning Appeals Join in the Design Debate
PROTECTION
HRH The Prince of Wales was in Northern Ireland recently and at the opening of the newly restored Christchurch in Belfast he spoke in strong terms of the lack of Conservation Areas in Northern Ireland. He also spoke of his concern about the number of buildings being de-listed by the Environment and Heritage Service as a result of their second survey of listed buildings.
Anyone watching the Restoration series on television will have heard similar concerns being expressed. Northern Ireland is perceived to be in the dark ages in terms of its attitude to the protection of built heritage, but given the response to Lissan House perhaps times are changing?
THE NATIONAL TRUST PLANNING COMMISSION
The National Trust is conducting a review of Planning in N.I. and HCG was asked to make a submission. We also subsequently gave oral evidence. We will let you know the eventual findings.
JUDICIAL REVIEW – Date for Hearing
The Judicial Review of the Planning Appeals Commission’s decision on 9 & 11 Bangor Road is due to heard on 13th October at 11am in the High Court, Chichester Street, Belfast. At the hearing early in September Senior Counsel for HCG noted that the developer had not provided the Department with a Design Concept Statement and applied to have this included as a reason for the review. The matter was adjourned to allow the other parties to consider this relevant point. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend so if you want to know more please contact us.
The proposal, which received PAC approval in October 2002, was for the demolition of the existing pair of fine 1834 houses and the erection of a four-story apartment block at the top of the hill and two terraces of five three-storied townhouses in the present garden. This was approved by the PAC despite opposition from the Planning Service, from North Down Borough Council and from HCG. Rita Harkin of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the local Conservation Architect Dawson Stelfox fully supported the case for the retention of these buildings.
PLANNING APPEAL HEARINGS-Please Come to Them
The Planning Appeal hearing on 20 Ailsa Road Cultra are due to take place in Holywood Library on 30th October starting at 10am. HCG supports the Cultra Residents Association in their opposition to the proposal. One of the main issues is the manipulation of this site by reducing the ground around the existing house to create a new site large enough to comply with local plot size regulations. We believe that it is vital for the character of Cultra that the plot size policy should continue to be rigorously enforced. To allow piecemeal development would be disastrous.
The Planning Appeal hearing on 2 Ballymenoch Road is due to take place at Holywood Library on 8th October starting at 11am. This relates to a proposal for four new houses that will involve the loss of protected trees. The applicant has however now submitted plans relating to a later application for the site requiring the removal of a large badger’s sett.
CHRISTMAS
Let HCG solve Christmas, give the Holywood book, prints or notelets to friends and family.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Contact: info@holywoodconservationgroup.org
Or phone Deirdre Thomas Tel: 9042 4724 or Jane McClure Tel: 9042 1948
Holywood Conservation Group: Company Registration No. NI 44991. Charity No. XR64327
REPRODUCTION VICTORIAN ?
or
AUTHENTIC 21ST CENTURY
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS?
The larger numbers of developments on infill sites means that architects are increasingly faced with the challenge of producing buildings that will sit comfortably beside their older neighbours. Of course the range of possibilities is infinite but there are a number of general approaches:
· Creating a faithful copy of an older neighbouring building.
· Designing a building that is almost a copy using modern materials and proportions.
· Designing a modern building that is not a copy but echoes
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County Down
