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DETAIL
The committee have reviewed
the proposals and have asked me to make the following views
known:
1) There is an objection to the demolition of the existing house
nearest the road on this site. This is a "gateway" into Baldock
and as such benefits a balanced street scene with houses at each
side of the road. Number 74 is on the register of Buildings of
Local Importance in Baldock. This states it is "included for
it's group value with 53 opposite and a focal point at the
entrance to the road".
2) There are major concerns about the design, scale and location
of the proposed built form, creating a complete dominance of the
street scene and destroying the symmetry currently enjoyed. As
you approach this corner from the High Street direction, the
balance of the existing houses is very evident and it does not
take much imagination to see what this proposal would do to the
street scene. Superimpose the proposal onto a photograph and it
is evident the street scene will be unbalanced, unsightly and
dominated by this building form, it is too tall, to near the
road and wraps around the corner into Clothall road materially
changing the context of the built form and open space. The
building lines exist in South Road and Laxton Gardens and any
new proposals should follow the same building line restrictions
maintaining the space between the built form and the main roads.
The approach from all other directions will also be materially
changed to the detriment of the area.
3) This is a prominently low rise area of the town, it is not
Georgian but a mix of Victorian and later buildings, with one or
two earlier houses. All of the development in South Road and
surrounding streets, so far have been balanced and measured and
in keeping with the character of a "market town". We are in
danger of loosing this image and becoming another overdeveloped
characterless town. We are in danger of loosing the flow of time
periods radiating out of the town centre to the further reaches
of the town. It is evident at the moment how the town has
evolved it's built form and this proposal, in this location,
will detract from the flow. There are places within Baldock
where this proposal would be more acceptable, but not at this
"key stone" point. Any development here should be within the
context of the surrounding area, respect the balance between
open space and built form, retain the existing unit as defined
by NHDC as being of "local importance" and add to the general
street scene in a balanced and positive manner.
4) The access onto South Road will be extremely dangerous. There
must be major concerns with traffic coming around the corner
from the Clothall direction onto this egress point without any
warning. If this is seriously being considered, then a major
traffic study should be undertaken and measures put in place to
mitigate the obvious dangers.
5) The road already suffers excessive traffic movements, the
dray lorry serving the Hen and Chickens causes some issues and
it is of major concern that the weekly collections of refuse
will cause more problems with traffic congestion. The thought of
the refuse lorries entering and leaving the site is another
cause for concern on this busy road.
6) This proposal coupled together with the proposal at the other
end of South Road in Limekiln Lane are adding some 79 housing
units, 180 bedrooms and 124 car parking spaces to this road, it
will not, in our opinion, be able to cope with this increase at
peak times. Have all the local infrastructure demands been
considered, water supply, drainage, electricity, roads, doctors,
dentists, schools etc., all of which are under pressure already.
Has the projected increase in traffic from the proposed increase
in housing on the Clothall estate as defined in the NHDC Local
Development Framework been considered in the light of such
proposals as this and Limekiln Lane?
7) The usual requests for "archaeological" excavations should be
considered.
In summary, we have no objection to some development on the
site, however, Number 74 should be retained, the height of any
new buildings should be restricted to 2/2.5 storey, the access
onto South Road must be safe, the use of design and materials
must compliment the existing building stock, the "gateway" into
Baldock must remain symmetrical, the balance of built form and
open space must be retained and the historic nature of Baldock
must be respected.
Thank you for considering our views.
Many thanks,
Chairman
Baldock Society
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