Agenda item

P22/S2932/LB - Wall between No. 104 & 105 High Street Thame, OX9 3DZ

Creation of new opening at the first floor level between 104 & 105 High Street to allow for increased covers for Caffe Gloria.

Minutes:

Councillor David Bretherton stood down as chair as he is a ward member for the application but still participated in the discussion and voted on the application.

 

The committee considered planning application P22/S2932/LB for the creation of new opening at the first floor level between 104 & 105 High Street to allow for increased covers for Caffe Gloria, on land at the wall between No. 104 & 105 High Street Thame.  

 

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting. 

 

The planning officer introduced the report and highlighted it was called into the committee by a local ward member, Councillor David Bretherton. The planning officer felt that the listed building consent to breach the wall between 104 and 105 High Street to allow for more seating for the café should not be granted as the Council’s conservation officer believe the harm to the building would outweigh the public benefit.

 

The conservation officer then informed the committee that in terms of category of harm, the buildings were at ‘less than substantial harm’ and that the bricks and their arrangement are not rare, although they look to be original to the building’s construction. 

 

 

Councillor Andy Gilbert spoke on behalf of Thame Town Council, objecting to the application. 

 

Dr Carole Fry, the heritage consultant for the applicants, spoke in support of the application.

 

Councillor David Bretherton, a local ward member, spoke in support of the application.

 

 

The committee noted that the bricks were original, and that there could be reasons for refusal, although it was still felt be some members that the economic benefit outweighed the effect on the historic buildings.

 

A motion, moved and seconded, to refuse the application for listed building consent was lost on being put to the vote with the chair exercising their casting vote.

 

 

Overall, the councillors generally agreed that as the bricks, their arrangement, and the skirting board are not rare, and that there would be an outsized benefit brought about through the inclusion of the vacant office space in 104 High Street by the Café in 105 High Street, the economic argument outweighs the architectural merit of the wall and therefore that the application should be granted, subject to the standard listed building consent conditions.

 

 

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application for listed building consent was carried on being put to the vote with the chair exercising their casting vote.

 

RESOLVED: to approve listed building consent application P22/S2932/LB subject to the following condition:

 

1. 3 year commencement condition, “The works hereby permitted shall be begun not later than three years from the date of this consent.


Reason: To comply with the provisions of section 18(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.”


2. approved plans listed building conditions, “That the works hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the following approved plans, except as controlled or modified by conditions of this consent.


Reason: To secure the proper planning of the historic environment in accordance with Development Plan policies.”

Supporting documents:

 

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