The following is my personal response to the two Notices of Appeal. Do you agree with me? Let me have your comments.
Dear Sir,
Your Ref: H1515/N08/2061958/NWF (Council references 101 5/3104 and BRW/313/2007)
Notice Of Appeal Under Section 78(i) By Essex County Council
Alterations To And Change Of Use Of Former Youth Centre To Two Bedroom Dwelling, Demolition Of Former Library And Erection Of Three Bedroom Dwellinghouse Together With Associated Works To Form Garden Areas And For Parking Spaces
Former Blackmore Youth Centre & Library, The Green, Blackmore, Brentwood, Essex
I am writing in support of Brentwood Borough Council’s refusal of a planning application to erect a three bedroom property on the former play-ground of this Victorian property.
The former Youth Centre was, until 1970, the ‘Blackmore Board School’ built in 1877. Although not a listed building, it lies within the Blackmore Conservation Area, and, as such, is of great importance to the character and history of the village. Any encroachment on this old school building will detract considerably from the ascetic well-being of the area. The school is a jewel in the crown of the Conservation Area.
Officers of Essex County Council recently prepared a draft ‘Blackmore Conservation Area Appraisal’. Consultation on the draft ended on 1 February 2008. I quote:
12.3 Redevelopment Sites within the Conservation Area
The old school is a distinctive and significant building and its original brick boundary walls and outbuildings are important to its character and to local views. These should be retained in any redevelopment of the Library site, and any new development should be subservient to the old school and respect its scale and the prominent location of this site.
It is recommended that the old school together with its walls and brick outbuildings should be preserved in any new development that might take place.
12.6 Locally listed buildings
Brentwood Borough Council at present do not hold a local list of buildings which, whilst not of sufficient national importance to warrant listing, are considered to be of local importance.
However the Replacement Local Plan ... states that they will seek to compile a list of buildings of local or historic interest. The buildings will be assessed using defined criteria and are likely to be good examples of a particular design, type of construction, the work of a local architect or a building associated with an important local figure. Inclusion in the list will be a material consideration in determining planning applications, in an effort to retain important original features and fabric, and to control alterations or extension so as to maintain the character of the building.
The old school is a building central to the Conservation Area and prominently positioned. Although extended to the rear it retains its original external and internal details largely complete.
It is recommended that the old school should be considered for inclusion on a 'local list' if one were to be adopted by the Local Authority.
I firmly believe that the former School should be conserved and sympathetically converted to ensure its future use and viability. The site should be unencumbered by modern buildings on the footprint of the site.
Listing a building might, taking a layman’s point of view, preserve the building but cause a question-mark over its future use.
The former Library should definitely be demolished and a more compatible extension constructed, whilst preserving the historic aspects of the former school.
I enclose copies of photographs highlighting, in my view, historic aspects of the former Board School which must be preserved (see above).
1. The Victorian Board School viewed from Nine Ashes Road: a prominent feature on the edge of the Conservation Area.
2. North East face of School, with date 1877.
Notice Of Appeal Under Section 78(i) By Essex County Council
Alterations To And Change Of Use Of Former Youth Centre To Two Bedroom Dwelling, Demolition Of Former Library And Erection Of Three Bedroom Dwellinghouse Together With Associated Works To Form Garden Areas And For Parking Spaces
Former Blackmore Youth Centre & Library, The Green, Blackmore, Brentwood, Essex
I am writing in support of Brentwood Borough Council’s refusal of a planning application to erect a three bedroom property on the former play-ground of this Victorian property.
The former Youth Centre was, until 1970, the ‘Blackmore Board School’ built in 1877. Although not a listed building, it lies within the Blackmore Conservation Area, and, as such, is of great importance to the character and history of the village. Any encroachment on this old school building will detract considerably from the ascetic well-being of the area. The school is a jewel in the crown of the Conservation Area.
Officers of Essex County Council recently prepared a draft ‘Blackmore Conservation Area Appraisal’. Consultation on the draft ended on 1 February 2008. I quote:
12.3 Redevelopment Sites within the Conservation Area
The old school is a distinctive and significant building and its original brick boundary walls and outbuildings are important to its character and to local views. These should be retained in any redevelopment of the Library site, and any new development should be subservient to the old school and respect its scale and the prominent location of this site.
It is recommended that the old school together with its walls and brick outbuildings should be preserved in any new development that might take place.
12.6 Locally listed buildings
Brentwood Borough Council at present do not hold a local list of buildings which, whilst not of sufficient national importance to warrant listing, are considered to be of local importance.
However the Replacement Local Plan ... states that they will seek to compile a list of buildings of local or historic interest. The buildings will be assessed using defined criteria and are likely to be good examples of a particular design, type of construction, the work of a local architect or a building associated with an important local figure. Inclusion in the list will be a material consideration in determining planning applications, in an effort to retain important original features and fabric, and to control alterations or extension so as to maintain the character of the building.
The old school is a building central to the Conservation Area and prominently positioned. Although extended to the rear it retains its original external and internal details largely complete.
It is recommended that the old school should be considered for inclusion on a 'local list' if one were to be adopted by the Local Authority.
I firmly believe that the former School should be conserved and sympathetically converted to ensure its future use and viability. The site should be unencumbered by modern buildings on the footprint of the site.
Listing a building might, taking a layman’s point of view, preserve the building but cause a question-mark over its future use.
The former Library should definitely be demolished and a more compatible extension constructed, whilst preserving the historic aspects of the former school.
I enclose copies of photographs highlighting, in my view, historic aspects of the former Board School which must be preserved (see above).
1. The Victorian Board School viewed from Nine Ashes Road: a prominent feature on the edge of the Conservation Area.
2. North East face of School, with date 1877.
3. The words ‘Board School’ decipherable below the sill on the SW face of the building: in all probability destroyed at the beginning of the Second World War.
Three copies of this letter are enclosed. I am also writing a letter of objection in connection with the other planning appeal.
Dear Sir,
Three copies of this letter are enclosed. I am also writing a letter of objection in connection with the other planning appeal.
Dear Sir,
Your Ref: H1515/E/08/2061961/NWF (Council references 1015/3105 and CAC/BRW/2/2007).
Town & Country Planning Act 1990
Notice Of Appeal Under Section 78(i) By Essex County Council
Demolition Of Former Library Building And Non-Listed Extensions To Youth Centre, Demolition Of A Length Of Wall Bounding Existing Car Park And Removal Of Ornamental Tree
Former Blackmore Youth Centre & Library, The Green, Blackmore, Brentwood, Essex
I am writing in support of Brentwood Borough Council’s refusal of a planning application to demolish a boundary wall to this former Victorian School.
Situated on the edge of Blackmore’s Conservation Area, the Youth Centre is the former Blackmore Board School, erected in 1877. The boundary wall is an important part of the site and any encroachment on the site will detract visually.
Officers of Essex County Council recently prepared a draft ‘Blackmore Conservation Area Appraisal’. Consultation on the draft ended on 1 February 2008. I quote:
12.3 Redevelopment Sites within the Conservation Area
The old school is a distinctive and significant building and its original brick boundary walls and outbuildings are important to its character and to local views. These should be retained in any redevelopment of the Library site, and any new development should be subservient to the old school and respect its scale and the prominent location of this site.
It is recommended that the old school together with its walls and brick outbuildings should be preserved in any new development that might take place.
I do not object to the demolition of the unsympathetic modern Library. Any extension to the existing building should though be in-keeping and preserve any historical items of interest. I have given examples in my other letter.
Three copies of this letter are enclosed.
Town & Country Planning Act 1990
Notice Of Appeal Under Section 78(i) By Essex County Council
Demolition Of Former Library Building And Non-Listed Extensions To Youth Centre, Demolition Of A Length Of Wall Bounding Existing Car Park And Removal Of Ornamental Tree
Former Blackmore Youth Centre & Library, The Green, Blackmore, Brentwood, Essex
I am writing in support of Brentwood Borough Council’s refusal of a planning application to demolish a boundary wall to this former Victorian School.
Situated on the edge of Blackmore’s Conservation Area, the Youth Centre is the former Blackmore Board School, erected in 1877. The boundary wall is an important part of the site and any encroachment on the site will detract visually.
Officers of Essex County Council recently prepared a draft ‘Blackmore Conservation Area Appraisal’. Consultation on the draft ended on 1 February 2008. I quote:
12.3 Redevelopment Sites within the Conservation Area
The old school is a distinctive and significant building and its original brick boundary walls and outbuildings are important to its character and to local views. These should be retained in any redevelopment of the Library site, and any new development should be subservient to the old school and respect its scale and the prominent location of this site.
It is recommended that the old school together with its walls and brick outbuildings should be preserved in any new development that might take place.
I do not object to the demolition of the unsympathetic modern Library. Any extension to the existing building should though be in-keeping and preserve any historical items of interest. I have given examples in my other letter.
Three copies of this letter are enclosed.
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