Plan for town centre development is refused over design concerns
December 15, 2022
Plans for a 62-bedroom care home in Midhurst town centre were refused over concerns about the design and its potential detrimental impact on the townscape.
The National Park Authority’s Planning Committee voted to refuse plans to redevelop a vacant brownfield site that was previously occupied by the former leisure centre in Bepton Road.
The proposals for “The Grange Development Site” included a 2.5 storey building with associated facilities, parking and landscaping.
Officers said a C2 use for the site was acceptable, in principle, as there is no policy requirement to safeguard the site for other uses, nor was there considered to be an in principle objection for a care home in this location.
However, the application was refused for a number of reasons, including that the design was considered to be unacceptable.
Lead Specialist Mark Waller-Gutierrez said: “The building has some successful elements such as the use of strong gables, articulation of the building lines but the traditional approach adopted includes contemporary elements which result in the building being neither one or the other. The material palette also fails to root the building in Midhurst.”
And Mark added: “The proposals risk creating an oppressive relationship with neighbours to the north due to its footprint and height.
“The scheme fails to be landscape led and fails to capitalise on potential wider green infrastructure and ecosystems services benefits. It needs to explore green infrastructure and SuDs solutions.
“We recommend the building be reduced in size and materials used and better reflect the local palette, as well as improve the sustainable construction of the proposal in terms of multifunctional SuDS and further green roofs.”
A report said the proposal would neither preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Midhurst Conservation Area.
Midhurst Town Council had objected to the plans.
Tim Slaney, Director of Planning, added: “We’ve rightly set the bar high for design as this is what the South Downs National Park and its communities deserve.
“I would recommend all developers take a landscape-led approach, engage early and a very good starting point is our Adopted Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document.”
The document can be read here.