Hillside House, 1- Hillside, Cotham PROFESSIONAL PLANNING APPRAISAL
to bypass the need for affordable housing (where the 10 unit threshold is reached)
would not be successful bearing in mind the property is currently a single planning
unit.
5.3 It is recommended that the existing openings in the original party walls separating
the two villas are blocked up to reinstate two separate buildings. This approach
would deliver heritage gain and in the case of a flatted conversion, would help to
off-set the horizontal sub-division of the villas.
Development Principles
5.4 A conservation architect should be appointed to assess which elements of the
building are historic, and so need to be retained, and where changes could be
made to accommodate a conversion. It is clear from the floor plans that the
internal layouts have been altered but it is not clear what remains of the historic
plan form, and therefore to what extent the layouts can be altered. Wherever
possible, bearing in mind the presumption in favour of preservation and the need
for clear and convincing justification for the loss of or harm to historic fabric, it is
recommended that historic features are retained. Reinstatement of lost historic
fabric would deliver heritage gain or could off-set loss in other parts of the building.
5.5 The dwellings will need to be designed in accordance with the Technical Housing
Standards
– Nationally Described Space Standards (see the Technical
Requirements as well as the GIA/storage requirements in Table 1).
5.6 Any external changes will need to be in keeping with the existing building in terms
of design, articulation, and the use of materials.
5.7 The proposal will need to comply with the Council’s sustainable design and
construction policies (use of renewable energy measures to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions from residual energy use in the buildings by at least 20%). There could also
be a requirement for the development to connect to a district heating network,
should this be in operation in this part of Bristol. This will need to be discussed with
an energy specialist and the Council at the feasibility/design stage.
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