KINGSTON AND NORTH KINGSTON NEIGHBOURHOOD

Conservation Areas Advisory Committee

PLANNING APPLICATION COMMENT FORM DATE: 11 April 2018

CA1

RBK ref: 18/12151/FUL

Address: 43 Market Place, KINGSTON UPON THAMES, KT1 1ET Planning Officer: Paul Young

Description of proposed works: Erection of two storey extension of the existing building to provide two new additional 2 x 1 bedroom flats at second and third floors.

APPRAISAL

By full committee on …… 11 April 2018 …… with …… 6 …… members present

1. Positive support		2. No objection
3. Objection	X	4. Objection unless revised as below
5. No comment/neutral		6. Lack of detail
7. Decision already issued

Reason for objection:

This is a Building of Townscape Merit in a prominent Market Place location: The proposed extension does not conform to RBK’s own recommendations in conservation terms:

Protecting and enhancing the historic environment is key to maintaining Kingston’s attractive character and distinctiveness, especially in the Old Town Conservation Area around the Market Place. (RBK Area Action Plan 2008-2020 p21)

The quirkiness that arises from the varying historic facade designs and heights that rise from the relatively small plots is an essential part of the character and distinctiveness of this area. The conservation area designation report (1968) states in its design criteria that “the new” should “respect the traditional solid and void appearance of existing buildings”. And in its description of the conservation area it states that the area is “small in scale and intimate, and any major alterations in the height of buildings and their proportions will ruin the skyline and destroy the distinctive medieval quality”

While there might be a logic to aligning the roof of the proposed addition with the existing roof line, this bulking up and homogenisation would be destructive to this buildings' character and the character of the immediate setting of this part of Eden street and the Market Place itself. Indeed if allowed, this could create a precedent that could lead to further homogenisation damage to the character of this streetscape.

The height and bulk would be excessive and would interrupt the frontage lines of the existing terrace. The end of terrace prominence of the existing mansard roof would be lost.

In terms of materials, the grey coloured cement board proposed for the new mansard roof is of concern on the grounds of quality of appearance, and how it might degrade and weather over time.