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PLANNING COMMITTEE

1 MAY, 2009

Present: County Councillor Burfoot (Chairperson); County Councillors Jerrett, Jones-Pritchard, David Morgan, Derrick Morgan, Pearcy and Robson

Apologies: County Councillors Hyde, Islam, and J Parry

P112 : DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The Chairperson reminded Members of their responsibilities, under Article 16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare interests and complete ‘personal interest’ forms, at the commencement of discussion of the item in question.

P113 : CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS: MOUNT STUART SQUARE & PIERHEAD, DRAFTS FOR CONSULTATION

The Chief Strategic Planning & Environment Officer sought comments on the draft Mount Stuart Square & Pierhead Conservation Area Appraisals.

The Mount Stuart Square Appraisal had recommended two minor boundary extensions to include the Cardiff Bay station building to the north of the existing Conservation Area boundary, which was now a Grade II* listed building, and Dock Lane to the east of the existing Conservation Area boundary, which was a pedestrian footpath running to the east of Bute Street, and which is enclosed by cast iron railings, which are listed.

The Pierhead Appraisal had recommended the following amendments to the existing Conservation Area boundary

(a) the inclusion of Graving Docks 2 and 3, their docksides, and the adjacent Powerhouse building;

(b) the inclusion of the Techniquest building;

(c) the inclusion of the rear spaces of Nos 5 to 12, Bute Crescent;

(d) the re-definition of the North-East boundary to include all of the public space around Roald Dahl Plass, and in front of and south- east of the Senydd building; the Senedd building itself; the Wales Millennium Centre; and their surrounding public space; and

(e) the re-definition of the Southern boundary to include the two listed signal platforms associated with the former docks and to achieve the complete inclusion of the two ‘pier’ structures.

The Committee was also informed of the public consultation arrangements that had been undertaken, and noted that, following the adoption of the appraisals, they can be used in the assessment of planning applications, in tandem with other adopted planning policy.

Officers then responded to Members questions.

RESOLVED – That the Chief Strategic Planning & Environment Officer

(1) inform the Executive that this Committee welcomes and supports the recommendations in both appraisal documents; and

(2) ask, on behalf of this Committee, the Executive to consider, favourably, the inclusion of the following in the Mount Stuart Square Conservation Area, upon re-designation

(a) the buildings known as the Mount Stuart Workshops, in Royal Stuart Lane, including the land which those buildings occupy;

and

(b) the parcel of land which lies to the south of Bute Place and to the east of Bute Street.

P114 : CARDIFF CITY CENTRE PUBLIC REALM MANUAL, DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION

The Chief Strategic Planning and Environment Officer sought comments on the draft Cardiff City Centre Public Realm Manual, and emphasised that, following the recent implementation of a number of significant, but separate, public realm improvement schemes in the City Centre, there was now an overarching aspiration to link such schemes and attain a high quality public realm across the core of the City Centre as a whole.

A Public Realm Manual had therefore been drafted, in order to facilitate this aspiration, set out criteria to ensure that high standards in construction methods were met at all times, and achieve a consistent approach to materials and styles for paving and street furniture, whilst responding to the character of the area.

Officers stressed that improvements in the standard of the public realm would contribute to achieving the County Council’s vision of a World class quality of life City, and that elements of the public realm that are well designed and thoughtfully co-ordinated can enhance the built form, give emphasis to particular buildings and landmarks, create a quality environment, and reinforce a sense of place.

The Committee was also informed of the public consultation arrangements that had been undertaken, and noted that following approval of the document, it can be used as guidance for County Council Officers concerned with the design, implementation and maintenance of the public realm, whilst also informing developers and other relevant stakeholders.

Officers then responded to Members questions.

RESOLVED – That the Chief Strategic Planning and Environment Officer

(1) inform the Executive that this Committee welcomes and supports the draft Cardiff City Centre Public Realm Manual, subject to the inclusion, in Chapter One, of a paragraph clarifying the status of the document, and its relevance to the development control process;

(2) ask, on behalf of this Committee, the Executive to bring forward initiatives to reduce signage clutter in the City Centre, include a paragraph to this effect in the document, and to consider, favourably, extending similar initiatives to other parts of the City.