At Undershaw Hotel, Hindhead Road, Hindhead
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B2 WA/2014/1227 Change of use from hotel (Class C1) to DFN Foundation educational use (Class D1) at Undershaw Hotel, 08/07/2014 Hindhead Road, Hindhead GU26 6AH Committee: Southern Area Meeting Date: 03/09/2014 Public Notice Was Public Notice required and posted: Yes Grid Reference: E: 488755 N: 135648 Town Council : Haslemere Ward : Haslemere Critchmere and Shottermill Case Officer: Kathryn Pearson 8 Week Expiry Date 02/09/2014 Neighbour Notification Expiry Date 22/08/2014 Neighbour Notification Amended/Additional Expiry Date RECOMMENDATION That, subject to the receipt of satisfactorily amended plans and Transport Assessment in respect of access and parking and consideration of the views of outstanding consultees as set out in the report and any third party representations received, permission be GRANTED subject to conditions. Introduction The application has been brought before the Area Committee as it falls outside the Council’s scheme of delegation. Location Plan Site Description The application site measures 1.05ha and is located at the crest of the junction of Portsmouth Road, which runs to the west, and Hindhead Road, which runs to the east. The site comprises a detached three storey building with accommodation within its roof, formerly used as a hotel. An additional wing was added to the south east of the building in the 1920/30’s, during its time as a hotel. This wing is considered to be of no significant architectural merit. The building is Grade II listed on the basis that it was the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famed for his Sherlock Holmes detective stories. The site slopes significantly down from its northern apex in a southerly direction, with the house being set on a terrace, with treed banks to the north, east and west. The south of the site is well treed also, and allows views across the woodland and valley beyond. Access to the site is via an existing vehicular access to the north west, which leads down to a small parking and turning area to the west of the building. There is a small detached former stable block to the north west of the main building, within the apex of the site. Proposal The proposal is for the change of use of the existing building from a hotel to an educational facility. The proposal would provide premises for an upper school for the existing Stepping Stones School at Hindhead, which would also retain its existing site in Hindhead as a junior school. The proposed ground floor layout would remain unchanged including the main entrance and kitchen; the former ground floor bathroom would be converted to WCs. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s (ACD) former study on the ground floor would form the Head Teacher’s office and it is intended to restore this room to how it would have looked in ACD’s time at Undershaw, with authentic but practical replication. The remaining ground floor rooms would be used for offices/computer room. On the first floor, four of the bedrooms would be classrooms. The former bedroom of ACD’s wife (Louise) would be used as a library, to allow the archway feature to remain intact, and ACD’s bedroom to the east would become a further classroom, with office space and WCs in remaining spaces on that floor. The attic would be given over to staff/preparation rooms and a WC. The Coach House would be retained as caretaker accommodation and the garage/stable area would be used for storage purposes. The proposed use would accommodate approximately 30 children with mild learning difficulties, generally taught in small groups of around 8 children. The proposal in its current form does not involve any internal or external extensions or alterations, or changes to the vehicular access. Elevations (unaltered) Main front elevation (south western) Main rear elevation (north east) Rear elevation of 1930’s extension (to south east of house) Side elevation of original house (north west) Side elevation of extension (south east) Existing ground floor plan Proposed ground floor plan Existing first floor plan Proposed first floor plan Existing second floor plan Proposed second floor plan Relevant Planning History WA/2010/0830 Change of Use from hotel/restaurant to Full Permission single dwelling 02/08/2010 – not implemented - expired WA/2010/0173 Application for Listed Building Consent Listed Building for the conversion, extension and Consent Granted alterations to building to provide 8 14/09/2010 – decision dwellings; alterations to Lodge House quashed by High Court and erection of a pavilion 30/05/2012 – pending decision WA/2010/0172 Conversion, extension and alterations Full Permission to building to provide 8 dwellings; 14/09/2010 – decision alterations to Lodge House and quashed by High erection of a pavilion Court 30/05/2012 – pending decision WA/2009/0225 Application for Listed Building Consent Listed Building to remove lathe and plaster from Consent Granted ceiling at 2 nd floor level 16/04/2009 WA/2006/1873 Application for Listed Building Consent Listed Building for alterations and conversion of lodge Consent Refused building into 2 key-worker dwellings 21/12/2006 WA/2006/1872 Alteration and conversion of existing Refused 21/12/2006 hotel into 4 dwellings, alteration and conversion of lodge building into 2 key- worker dwellings and the erection of 3 detached dwellings together with provision of a new access and ancillary works WA/2006/0459 Application for Listed Building Consent Withdrawn 07/07/2006 for internal and external alterations to existing hotel and lodge to provide 13 dwellings WA/2006/0458 Alteration and conversion of existing Refused 08/05/2006 hotel and lodge to provide 13 dwellings, construction of a new access and ancillary works WA/2004/2235 Erection of a detached building to Withdrawn 23/11/2004 provide 8 flats WA/1990/1132 Display of illuminated free standing Appeal Allowed signs 27/04/1991 Planning Policy Constraints Within Developed Area Listed Building (Grade II) AQMA Buffer Zone East Hants SPA 5km Buffer Zone Wealden Heaths I SPA 5km Buffer Zone Wealden Heaths II SPA 1km and 5km Buffer Zone Development Plan Policies and Proposals Policies D1, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, CF2, LT2, HE3, HE4, HE5, HE15, M2 and M14 of the Waverley Borough Local Plan 2002 The Council is preparing a new Local Plan to replace the current Waverley Borough Local Plan that was adopted in 2002. The new Local Plan is being produced in two stages. Part 1 will set out the overall spatial strategy and strategic site allocations. Part 2 will contain development management policies and other land allocations. Extensive work has already been carried out for Part 1 through the Core Strategy, which was submitted for Examination in January 2013. Following comments from the Inspector the Core Strategy was withdrawn in October 2013. The Council has since sought to address the inspector’s concerns and is moving forward with the new Local Plan, building on the foundations of the Core Strategy. In some areas, the policy/approach is not likely to change significantly. A number of evidence base studies have been published to support the new Local Plan, including a Draft Strategic Housing Market Assessment. The Council will be consulting on potential housing scenarios and other issues during September and October 2014. A full draft Local Plan is intended to be published in early 2015, with submission to follow later in 2015. Other guidance: The National Planning Policy Framework 2012 (NPPF) The National Planning Practice Guidance 2014 (NPPG) Residential Extensions Supplementary Planning Document 2010 (SPD) Waverley Borough Council Parking Guidelines 2013 Planning Infrastructure Contributions 2008 Surrey Vehicular and Cycle Parking Guidance 2012 Surrey Hills AONB Management Plan 2009-2014 PPS5: Planning for the Historic Environment Practice Guide Consultations and Town/Parish Council Comments County Highway The Highway Authority has visited the site and noted Authority that the existing vehicular access to the site is not ideal, with sub-standard visibility in the leading traffic direction and insufficient width where the access meets the highway to allow for the two-way movement of vehicles. In this instance, without any improvements, the exiting access is not suitable to safely accommodate any change of use that would result in a material increase in traffic movements associated with the site. To overcome the Highway Authority's concerns, the applicant should provide a transport statement, comparing the potential trip generation of the existing C1 use compared with the proposed D1 use. If the trip generation assessment demonstrates that the proposed use would not intensify the use of the existing sub-standard access, then the Highway Authority would have no highway safety concerns. However, any material increase generated by a D1 use of the site will not be acceptable without improvements to the access arrangement. Haslemere Town Council Fully supports this proposal. English Heritage English Heritage supports in principle the use of the house for educational purposes but recommends that the Council satisfies itself that alterations or extensions to the building would not be so harmful to the significance of the building that it would no longer represent an appropriate use for the building. Welcomes the opportunity of advising further. Please consult again if any additional information or amendments are submitted. If, notwithstanding our advice, the Council propose to approve the scheme in its present form, please advise of the date of the committee and send a copy of your report at the earliest opportunity. Ancient Monuments Interested in attending a site visit if one is planned. Society Understands from the comments submitted online that one of the buildings on site may be earmarked for demolition, it would be useful to see this, if possible.