®Planning appeal decision
38 Robin Hood, The Flat, Sydenham Road, GUILDFORD, GU1 3RT
a 4-storey new build apartment building with a single commercial component (wine bar – sui generis) located at ground floor and 5 flats above across 3 floors, following demolition of The Robin Hood Public House
- Authority
- Guildford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Sargent J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether there would be unacceptable harm through the demolition of a locally listed building
- whether the proposal would fail to preserve the character or appearance of the Guildford Town Centre Conservation Area and so harm its significance
- whether it would prejudice the redevelopment of the neighbouring allocated site
- whether it would have a likely significant effect, when considered alone or in combination with other plans and projects, on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (the SPA)
What decided it
The public benefits of housing delivery and economic/employment benefits, combined with the clear and convincing justification for demolition arising from the building's unviability for repair or retention, outweighed the less than substantial harm (at the lowest end of the scale) to the conservation area and the loss of the locally listed building.
The public benefits (housing delivery, economic and employment benefits) outweighed the less than substantial harm, at the lowest end of the scale, to the significance of the conservation area, and a balanced judgement justified the loss of significance of the locally listed, non-designated heritage asset.
Framework references: 196, 204
Plan policies cited: Policy HE9, Policy D3, Policy A11, Policy D4(7)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.