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It's easier with Standing Orders

AGM report by Planning & Environment Coordinators, 2010/11

By Barry Leigh and Sandy Crowhurst

Over the past year the Planning and Environment Coordinators have looked in detail at all the planning applications for North Laine, as well as applications for those adjoining it and major ones outside it. We continue to represent North Laine on the Conservation Advisory Group.

Comments on planning applications

Through Standing Orders which were adopted October 2010 we have been able to make a decision outside a meeting (with the approval of another Officer), due to having to meet the Council’s closing date for comments. Overall our meetings have looked at over 50 applications, most of them fairly minor.

Concerned with the visual appearance and mix

As a community association our main focus is on the visual appearance and mix of the area. Article 4 Directions exists for most streets, which mean that no changes can be made without planning permission. We are pleased that it is now possible (still with planning permission) to have double-glazed windows installed within existing frames, with no visible difference. We do not usually comment on aspects that are not visible, but we support neighbours if they contact us and their property is affected.

Major sites

There is no current application for the vacant site on the corner of Portland Road and Church Street and, although permission was granted a few years ago for a hotel to be built on the vacant Casino site in Queen’s Road/rear of Frederick Street, no development has started there.

There is a new planning application for Site J on the Station site (previously owned by Beethams) for a mixed development comprising office space, hotel and residential. If approved, this will see the completion of the Southern Site of Nature Conservation Interest (the ‘green route’ leading to New England Hill), public open space, car and cycle parking and the long-awaited provision of the link to the Station.

There is also an application to demolish the Astoria Cinema and replace it with an office block, but residents have said that they would prefer housing, bearing in mind that the TSB building next to it is vacant.

Conservation Advisory Group (CAG)

CAG consists of a range of representatives from Conservation Areas in Brighton & Hove, plus the Brighton Society, Regency Society, Royal Institute of British Architects, Hove Civic Society, Sussex, Archaeological Society, Georgian Society, and representatives of the Council’s Conservation Planning Officers. CAG meets every three weeks to look at a range of applications. Between April 2010 and March 2011 the CAG discussed approximately 130 applications, 5 of them in North Laine. An average of 70 planning applications a week is received by the Council’s planning officers.

Local Action Team (LAT)

We continue to represent the NLCA at the London Road LAT meetings, as their LAT priorities are similar to ours and we can share views about future developments in our adjoining areas, for example, the vacant Co-op, the Open Market planning application, proposals for The Level and where the ‘new’ Post Office will be located in the area.

Estate agent boards

The Council’s new Regulation 7 Direction, approved by the Secretary of State, took effect on 20 September 2010, which means that estate agent boards cannot be erected in a number of Conservation Areas, including North Laine. Boards erected before this date remain until the property is sold.

And don’t forget…

Residents are reminded to look out for planning applications that might affect them. These are published weekly in B&H Leader, on boards outside Brighton & Hove Town Halls and on the Council’s website.