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Approval for the installation of timber fencing was applied for under the general refurbishment proposals submitted December 2017. PA 17/01332/GB and Registered Building Consent application 17/01333/CON refers.
The pub was closed for refurbishment January 2018 and due to time constraints associated with the need for it to re-open by Easter, in January we endeavoured to liaise with the planning officer in an effort to see if they had any concerns regarding the general ethos of the refurbishment proposals.
In February we were asked to resubmit the application to clarify matters Highways had raised in relation to the ramp at the front of the building and car parking spaces to the rear.
As far as we were aware these were the only matters of concern that needed to be addressed. Whilst the original target date of re-opening by Easter was missed, an opening date of 14th April was established.
To meet licencing requirements a planning approval notice needed to be to hand prior to then. On 3rd April the planning officer advised that planning approval would be issued imminently under delegated powers albeit with the recommendation that a condition be applied confirming that no approval be granted to the erection or installation of any fencing within the site. It should be noted in Picture A that an 1850 mm high fence had already been installed at the site.
Erection of the fencing that is a fundamental part of the ethos of the beer garden was already under way and there was simply no time left to argue the case.
In addition, during that refurbishment a decision was made to change the boiler from oil to gas fired and relocate it within the plant room areas that already prevailed adjacent to the Kitchen at first floor level.
This change meant the oil tank compound could be removed from within the beer garden area with the associated benefits of allowing the line of the beer garden to remain more or less as is meaning no encroachment into the car park area as previously envisaged.
The 1850 mm high element of fence along the boundary with the public walkway is necessary from a privacy point of view and is appropriate in terms of replacing the previous 1850 mm high oil tank compound in part and lower faux hedging in part.
Pic A -Boundary situation prior to works taking place Pic B -Boundary situation once oil tank compound and faux hedging had been removed Pic C - Completed installation as viewed from Farrant's Way
The fence which crosses the car park at 900 mm high has less impact on the surrounding area than the previous oil tank compound had as more of the rear face of the building is visible from Farrant's way.
The fencing is totally in keeping with the other timber elements of the beer garden that were deemed appropriate under the previous application with the planning officer's comments reading as follows:
"The installation of a new replacement timber pergola is unlikely to have any significant adverse impact on the wider character of the conservation area or the Registered Building. Similarly the installation of a small timber covered seating area within the beer garden is considered to be a reasonable level which is unlikely to have any significant adverse impacts on the character of the Registered Building or the wider Conservation Area. While these timber structures are not something you would readily see within a Conservation Area it is considered that their installation will help to accommodate the continuing use of the Registered Building without loss of any of its special interest."
Her reasons for recommending refusal of the fence read as follows:
"In the case of this application there is little information or evidence to fully understand the style and visual appearance of the proposed fence. That aside the site and its immediate surroundings are characterised by substantial stone walls which run along the boundary of the immediate properties enclosing their rear garden/yard areas. The installation of a timber boundary structure would be
contrary to those stone boundary materials used in the Conservation Area and would result in an adverse impact on the character of the area and detriment the setting of the Registered Building".
This application shows exactly what is proposed and rather than being at odds with the conservation area, as can be seen from the images below timber fencing and timber gates readily prevail in the area.
Pic D -Fencing in car park adjacent to the George {{image:228115}} Pic F -Manx to the Maxx adjacent to the Builders Yard {{image:228116}} Pic H -Fencing/gate at 23 Farrants Way {{image:228117}} Pic H -Fencing/gate at 23 Farrants Way Pic E -Gates beyond the adjacent car park {{image:228118}} Pic G -Builders Yard {{image:228119}} Pic I -Fencing adjacent to Church
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Unlike those above, the timber here will be allowed to weather naturally which, as can be seen by in the photograph of a similar installation at The Cat with no Tail Pic J, means in a few months the silver nature of the timber will tone in well with the natural stone in the area as a whole.
Timber is a product that would have naturally been around at the time The George was built, and what is proposed here is certainly more in keeping than the rusty corrugated sheeting on the boundary of Secret Pizza Company's Pic K and the graffiti shark on the wall immediately opposite The George where the public footpath runs past
The fencing as currently installed represents an appropriate improvement to that which prevailed prior to the works taking place. It is totally in keeping with the ethos of the beer garden as approved under PA 17/01332/GB and Registered Building Consent application 17/01333/CON, its height adjacent to the public footpath is necessary in terms of privacy with the overall effect being in keeping with both its registered building status and the conservation area as a whole.
Pic K- Corrugated sheeting on the boundary of The Secret Pizza Company building Pic K- Corrugated sheeting on the boundary of The Secret Pizza Company building
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