Planning permission is being sought to demolish an unlisted 1930s Miller home of no 'architectural merit’ and to build a larger, state-of-the-art, 3-bedroom, carbon-neutral dwelling-house in its place (Ref. 13/02489/FUL).
The property in question is 91 Annandale Street, which stands at the terrace end before the run of buildings (including the newsagent) leading round into Bellevue Road.
The plans have been drawn up by Drummond Place-based Joseph Thurrott Architects (JTA). Their 'Statement of Design' (see foot of page) contains many interesting drawings and designs, and the following description:
‘The existing accommodation comprises a basement level with a door leading out to the south facing sunken garden, a ground floor level with the main entrance off Annandale Street and a first floor level containing bedrooms. The existing attic space in currently unoccupied. The new house will comprise the same floor levels with the addition of an occupied attic level as per the neighbouring house at 87 Annandale Street. Additional floor area on all levels will be achieved by increasing the width of the new house to the full extent of the property boundary. The floor area of the basement and ground floor level will also be increased by means of an extension to the rear. The existing sunken garden will be re-landscaped with a new stone boundary retaining wall.’
Despite its very modern credentials (notably a glazed extension at ground and garden level to the rear) and the increase in its footprint sideways and backwards, the new building’s ‘external envelope’ (the outside) would include some elements repeating those in its surroundings: for example, cement render, a roof matching the pitch, ridge height and colour of the original, and a visually consistent line of guttering.
For all these architectural nods to the neighbourhood, it remains a fact that – if consented – there would be nothing quite like this property in the area.
Award-winning JTA propose building the new structure to ‘Passive House standards’. This would entail achieving an ultra-low energy house requiring very little energy to heat or cool. (The term refers specifically to standards validated by the Passivhaus-Institut in Germany, where most such buildings have been realised to date.) JTA's website outlines a prototype design for an 'Atrium House', where a similar approach is imaginatively conceptualised.
Now, at first glance the new proposal appears to be an exciting addition to the area. Spurtle finds much to admire in its looks, the clever and creative optimisation of space, and its ecologically minded wallet-warming economy. Spurtle, however, will not have to live opposite or adjacent to it.
Whilst residents hereabouts are well-accustomed to adaptation and extension of Bellevue's characteristic Miller designs, it remains to be seen whether they will now feel able to take a fully fledged 21st-century replacement to their hearts.
What do you think? Contact us by email spurtle@hotmail.co.uk on Facebook Broughton Spurtle or Twitter @theSpurtle
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