3.0 Planning History

3.1 Local Plan Designation: The Council has approved a recommendation that the site be endorsed within the policy framework of the Deposit Plan. The land to the south is designated in the Deposit Plan as Green Space and a Nature Conservation Site of Regional and Local Nature Conservation Importance and is subject to policies LNC4 and LNC7 respectively.

3.2 Previous Planning History: Details of previous planning permissions are summarised below, but further details can be obtained from the Planning Department.

3.2.1 The site has been used in the past by a building supplies merchant, but no planning permission has been granted for this use. Planning permission was refused on 10th March 1994 (ref: 93/346/491/78) for the change of use of 138a Abbey Foregate to entirely B1 office use, development of adjoining land for residential use together with associated roads and sewers and provision of public amenity area. The reasons for refusal were:-

• The site included land proposed for retention as open space in the local plan.
• The proposals did not preserve or enhance the Conservation Area and were of a poor standard of design, layout and lacked amenity space.
• The estate road and layout were likely to be detrimental to highway safety.

3.2.2 This application included land beyond the site, into the Rea Valley: hence reason number one.

3.2.3 Planning permission was also refused on 10th March 1994 (ref: 93/345/CON/491/78) for the demolition of 5 Mill Road and outbuildings at the rear of 138a Abbey Foregate, but retaining the perimeter wall as a screen. This was refused on the grounds that the demolition and clearance of the site, without a suitable scheme for development, would be detrimental to the visual amenities and character and appearance of the Conservation Area.