for Thetford Building garden development ref: 08/00420/F and 08/00419/C
Error causes delay over college plans
KATE SCOTTER
10 July 2008 16:49
A decision on controversial plans for a new City College building has been deferred due to a council cock-up.
Norwich City Council's planning committee were due to decide whether to build a new eco-friendly teaching centre on the site of the college's former Thetford Building, on the corner of Ipswich and Cecil roads.
However, they deferred the decision for a month because there had had been an error on the council's website, leading people to believe they had until July 15 to submit their views when in fact the public consultation period ended last week.
Councillors also said the delay meant they would be able to conduct a site visit to investigate more closely the application.
Families living nearby, several of whom have objected to the new £1.6m building because it is in a conservation area and they claim it would be out of character, said they were relieved the decision had been delayed, saying it would give more people the chance to have their say.
Jeff Brown, who lives next to the proposed site on Cecil Road, said: “I'm pleased that residents are being given the opportunity to comment because I know a number of people who wanted to object but had not yet done so because of the July 15 date on the website.
“It's good that the councillors want to have a site visit and today has given us more faith in the planning process, although we will still have to wait and see what the outcome is.”
His wife Jenny added that they were not against the building itself but thought there were more suitable locations within the college campus for it to be housed.
The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers at City Hall.
Barrie Nunn, of College Redevelopment Concerns (CRC), said: “The decision is a victory for the confidence in the planning process and gives an opportunity for both the councillors and the committee to properly assess the whole impact of the proposed building at a site that is in need of some attention and is in a conservation area.
“No one's against the facilities, it's just not appropriate against residents' homes and next to the Thetford building which is quite an important building.”
The proposed building, due to be opened by Spring next year, is intended to be used for the Construction and the Built Environment Diploma and would feature sustainable energy saving devices.
Dick Palmer, college principal, said: “I am confident that when the councillors view the site they will share our view that what we are proposing is a building that will be an exemplar of the environmentally sustainable buildings that we will increasingly be building in the future.
“They will see how we have ensured that the new building has been designed to be sympathetic to its location on the edge of the campus, below the level of the surrounding houses.”
The proposals will now be discussed on July 31.
Are you fighting an application where you live? Contact Evening News reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk.
