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Comments: |
I am writing on behalf of the Horsham
Society to object strongly to this
application. The site is in a very prominent
position on the corner of Hurst Road and
North Parade, which is one of the major
entry routes into the town centre. Any
development in this position will, for
better or worse, create a much greater
impact on the streetscene than flanking
properties in either North Parade or Hurst
Road. Particular care needs to be given to
its design. It is therefore disappointing
that the developer’s vision “to enhance and
enrich the character of this part of Horsham
by high quality architecture” has, in our
view, so spectacularly failed in its
execution. The proposed design is a
mish-mash seemingly aimed at incorporating
every material and style to be found in
neighbouring buildings, good and bad. The
result is an over-fussy building with the
worst characteristics of some of its more
recent neighbours and no character of its
own. It fails both to deliver the
developer’s own brief of “a coherent and
highly legible development with a
stimulating and distinctive character” and
the Council’s policy of ensuring that new
development is of a high quality. The layout
is constrained by the decision to retain the
“air raid structure” (presumably on cost
grounds) and the need to retain the large
Oak tree and as a result is cramped and
over-intensive. There is inadequate
provision for parking. Older people now
commonly drive into their eighties and there
should be at least one parking space for
each flat. There is also very limited
outdoor space for residents. Whilst a
suitable development could be higher on the
corner than the rest of the block, the
present double gable is over-bearing. It is
noted that the developments with which
comparisons are drawn are all three storied,
not four as proposed here. This is a missed
opportunity to produce a modern well
designed landmark building which does
justice to the site. We urge the Council to
refuse this application on the grounds that
it is too intensive, too large, with too
little car parking and outdoor space, and
above all of poor design. We note this is
for committee decision. If the officer
recommendation were to be for approval we
would wish to speak at the meeting. John
Steele Secretary, Planning Sub Committee |
