Support From The Victorian Society

The Victorian Society Objects to the Proposal

The Victorian Society has written a strong letter of objection to the proposed 'eco-construction' in the Thetford Building Garden (see the panel below).

The Victorian SocietyOff-site link is a national conservation and amenity society. Importantly, the society is a government appointed statutory consultee and must be informed by the City Council of any planning matters that affect Victorian or Edwardian properties. The Victorian Society has a department staffed with experienced, professional, conservation and planning advisers whose role is to comment objectively about planning applications.

We hope that the Planning Department and City Councillors will accord appropriate weight to the The Victorian Society's erudite opinion.

"Victorian and Edwardian buildings are irreplaceable, cherished, diverse, beautiful, familiar and part of our everyday life.
They contribute overwhelmingly to the character of places people love and places where people live. They belong to all of us. Their owners are really only custodians for future generations. Victorian and Edwardian buildings are part of our collective memory, and central to how we see ourselves as individuals, communities and as a nation."

Objection Letter 18 June 2008

Dear Mr Campbell,
Norwich City College, Ipswich Road, Norwich (Newmarket Road Conservation Area)

Thank you for notifying the Society of the above application. We wish to object to the erection of a new eco-style construction in the grounds of the Thetford building.

The construction of the building designed ‘primarily from an Eco basis’ (Design and Access Statement 08/00420/F) will not enhance the existing character of the Newmarket Road Conservation Area. The proposed site is in what was formerly the garden of the Thetford building which was built as a house in 1887 and is now part of the college. The new Centre would overwhelm this characterful Victorian house due to its comparatively large bulk and close proximity. The Thetford building is noted in the book Norwich in the Nineteenth Century as being one of the best examples of the Queen Anne Revival in the city. Its distinctive character would be compromised by the presence of a large, rendered, eco building directly behind.

Norwich City Council’s Local Plan specifically states that development within Conservation Areas will be considered in relation to whether; ‘every effort to conserve and retain the features which contribute to the area’s character can be demonstrated’(HBE8).These features would include the open spaces which make this part of Newmarket Road Conservation Area a pleasantly green and open suburb of Norwich. The Local Plan goes on to state that new design in conservation areas should respect and be ‘sympathetic to the form and character of the area’s development including any extant historic plot boundaries’(HBE8).

The applicants quote PPG15’s recommendation that gap sites or ‘negative’ buildings, should be seen as an opportunity to enhance a conservation area. This is not applicable to the garden of this house despite the existence of the temporary building. If, as the applicants suggest, the garden of the Thetford building could be visually improved due to the presence of the temporary structure the solution should be to remove it and restore the appearance of the garden to be in keeping with the character of the surrounding area.

We would therefore recommend that your council refuses this application consent.
Please contact the Society if we can give any further help over these or amended proposals.

Yours sincerely