|
From the Dover Mercury, 1 August, 2013. 80p.
EYESORE TO GO AS TOWN RE-STITCHED
Improvements planned to riverside walk in facelift bid for run-down
area
District council leader Cllr Paul Watkins at Burlington House, which
could be demolished
Planners are being asked to give the go-ahead for the redevelopment of
the St James' area of Dover.
The scheme would involve the demolition of buildings including the
Burlington House office block.
It would provide more than 10,000 square metres of new shops in three
main blocks, plus other business and residential development.
The site is between Townwall Street, Woolcomber Street, Castle Street,
King Street and Russell Street and includes land at Flying Horse Lane.
Some of the proposal is similar to a plan approved by the district
council last year, which followed
the approval of a previous plan in 2009.
However, that included Asda as the anchor store for the development, and
since then the company has withdrawn.
Councillors, who will consider the latest plan next Thursday, August 8,
are being told that the difference between this application and the last
one is an increase of 68 square metres in the floor space of one of the
main shopping units and five fewer car parking spaces.
Improved
“While the changes are modest, they are nevertheless material and
require re-advertising and re-appraisal,” said the council's
case worker Peter Wallace.
There will be a “pocket park” on the comer of King Street and Flying
Horse Lane, the character of Flying Horse Lane will be enhanced by a
single-storey, timber, painted kiosk on the north side, the riverside
walk will be improved and a new pedestrian route will be created to the
A20.
"‘The application seeks to transform the commercial offer in Dover,”
said Mr Wallace.
“It is considered that it achieves this in a manner that ‘re-stitches'
and improves the urban form, while respecting the setting of heritage
assets.
“The buildings have been arranged so that they reinforce some of the
existing street frontages, forming a number of small urban blocks and a
series of public spaces, streets and pedestrian routes.”
The applicants have set aside
£10,000 towards the long-term storage of archaeological items found
on the site.
Describing the condition of the site, Mr Wallace said it had a rundown
appearance.
He said: “This negative impact is accentuated by the architectural form
of the remaining buildings and in particular Burlington House which is
now widely recognised as an eyesore.”
Most of the authorities and organisations asked for their views on the
proposal have no objection.
These include English Heritage, the Environment Agency, Affinity Water
and Southern Water.
Six representations have been received from the public, which are said
to generally support the plans, although some specific issues have been
raised.
One person said the development failed to integrate with either the town
or port and did not take the opportunity to improve the pedestrian links
between the town centre and sea front.
There were also concerns that the development could hit business in
existing shops in the town centre and could harm shops in Deal, as well
as the loss of the "County Hotel" at a time when the council should be
preserving hotel accommodation.
Existing landowners' properties would have to be vacated, said one,
while another described the level of consultation as "disappointing".
The council is also being asked to find an alternative site for the soup
kitchen.
|
