S. Harrison Development Ltd (SHD) has applied for planning permission to build a mixed use development comprising student accommodation (226 beds), retail, café and restaurant uses at 34b Haddington Place (Ref. 14/03513/FUL).
This follows the pre-application consultation stage we reported in June (Breaking news, 25.6.14).
The plans relate to a now vacant site adjacent to and uphill of McDonald Road Library; see artist's impression of the south-east elevation below. A plan is also available here.
Three disabled car parking spaces are proposed, half the number we expected following the earlier consultation. The total floorspace dedicated to Class 1 retail (food) and Class 3 café and restaurant uses is 1,137 sq.m, although who gets how much will not be determined until the eventual operators have been confirmed. In the rest of the building, 8,624sq.m. has been set aside for Class 8 ‘residential institutions’.
The number of student beds is six more than the upper guestimate suggested at the pre-application consultation with the public.
Much of the meat in this proposal is contained in the 'Planning Statement' here, including SHD’s justification for increasing the student density in the combined site data zone to 34.06%, i.e. above the 30% threshold stipulated by Council guidance:
as directed by supplementary guidance, the locational and density criteria shall not be applied in isolation and consideration must be given to site characteristics and other matters such as design, conservation and parking. In addition, the guidance makes specific reference to the need for information on ‘adjoining’ data zones as well as the ‘proposal’ data zone. When adjoining data zones are included, the student density with the proposed development does not exceed the 30% threshold indicated.
Spurtle has not yet been through the proposal with a fine toothcomb, but will return to the application if and when we have something useful to say. First impressions, though, are positive.
In the meantime, we’re interested as ever to hear what you think. Contact us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk @theSpurtle Broughton Spurtle
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Ken Dixon Rather derogatory to artists.
What a lost opportunity, is this the best the developer can come up with? No charm, no style, no imagination just a hulking block that bullies it's way onto the street.
Broughton Spurtle Have thought about this a bit now, and disagree. Don't find it too hulking or bullying. Find some charm in sympathetic, rhythmic stone columns. Like the way it steps back towards McDonald Rd Library. Rather admire it as an ingenious and pragmatic solution with one eye on the future expansion northwards of the tramline.
Neale Gilhooley I like it, and hope it gets built with these clean lines soon. The present gap site (for many years) is an awful blight and it could have been very much worse.