Purpose

Background Information
 
North Lodge and South Lodge are identified as Locally
Listed Buildings by the Council, and hence non-designated heritage
assets. As these are not statutorily Listed Buildings nor fall
within a Conservation Area, they do not benefit from the
protections against demolition without requiring planning
permission, under Class B of Schedule 2, Part 11 of the GDPO
2015.
 
North Lodge has
been part of the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and
used as a site office, but was declared surplus to requirements and
approved for disposal from the Council’s Estate at
a
Housing Sub Committee
(24 January 2017) and

Corporate and
Resources Committee (22 November
2022).
 
In the course of the asset’s disposal, the
Council received an Application to Determine if Prior Approval is Required for the
demolition of North Lodge, under Class B of Schedule 2, Part 11 of
the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) 2015, submitted by
the prospective purchaser. This was received and validated on 23rd
March 2023. The application was refused on 14th April 2023, due to
the lack of information in relation to the method of demolition and
any proposed restoration of the site.
 
The sale is due to complete on 29th August 2023. The
threat to the building therefore remains imminent, as the future
owner may submit a new application to demolish the building under
permitted development rights. The prospective purchaser has been
made aware of the Council’s intention to introduce an
immediate Article 4 Direction to remove these permitted development
rights.
 
South Lodge is currently still occupied as part of
the Council’s HRA, but is considered as part of a group with
North Lodge on the Kingsnympton Park
Estate. Jointly applying an Article 4(1) Direction to both North
and South Lodge recognises the threat to the local amenity of the
area, if either of the buildings were to be demolished without the
benefit of a full planning application, to assess the proposed
development under the Council’s Development Plan.
 
The prominence of the buildings in the street scene
makes a significant positive contribution to the character and
appearance of the area, and are local amenities in terms of
townscape, heritage and cultural significance.

Content

A.        That the
Council serves an immediate Article 4(1) Direction at North Lodge
and South Lodge, Kingsnympton Park, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7TF,
to remove nationally permitted development rights for the
demolition of a building on these sites.

 

B.        That the
Council consults on the immediate Article 4(1) Direction for six
weeks and decides whether to permanently confirm it within six
months.