The Conservation Advisory Panel of Leicester Council was scheduled to consider a range of development proposals impacting the city's heritage. Key discussions were expected to focus on alterations to the Grade II* listed 31 Granby Street, a proposed development on the east side of Old Mill Lane, and the potential removal of trees outside the City Rooms.

Development at 31 Granby Street

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to planning applications concerning 31 Granby Street. The report pack indicated that the panel would review the latest iteration of a scheme involving a part change of use of the basement, ground floor, and first floor from a Place of Worship (Class F1) to a mixed use comprising a Cafe (Class E) and Place of Worship (Class F1). This also included proposals for the demolition of a rear wall, the installation of a canopy to the rear, and the installation of a flue. Furthermore, internal and external alterations to the Grade II* listed building were to be considered. The site is noted as being Grade II* listed, located within the Granby Street Conservation Area and adjacent to the Town Hall Square Conservation Area, and within the settings of various listed buildings.

The report pack detailed that the panel had previously raised questions about the principle of development and the purpose of the proposed canopy, as well as the necessity for widening the existing rear entrance. While the panel was content to leave smaller-scale details, such as mechanical and electrical interventions, to the assessment of officers, more attention was to be paid to the treatment of the colonnade. A recommendation was made that it would be best to offset the glazed screen from the arcade itself to ensure it was reversible, but that being on the hall side was more harmful than in the corridor. The design of the screen was criticised for lacking quality, particularly the arrangement of horizontal and vertical glazing bars, which could negatively impact the appearance of the arcade. Other internal elements of concern included the effect of mechanical and electrical panels on the windows, for which an additional elevation showing the exterior was required. A question was also raised regarding the whereabouts of parts of the historic banking counter.

For the exterior, the addition of new railings to the entrance corner on Granby Street and Bishop Street was accepted, with the understanding that the quality of workmanship would be critical on a highly graded building. It was suggested that a condition should be added to ensure new railings are provided by a specialist blacksmith. The rear development remained contentious, with panellists questioning the decision to use the vehicle loading bay as the datum for the height of the proposed canopy. The canopy design itself was criticised for being imposing, with an oppressive roof form and questions raised over details such as rainwater goods. The use of timber cladding inside the seating area was considered an incongruous choice. Concerns were also raised over the widening of the rear entrance, as the current format carefully considered the topography of the site and pavement, with the piers being level. Widening the gap would visually disrupt this. Overall, the panel continued to view the rear development as poorly conceived, lacking justification, and potentially harmful.

Land and Buildings on the East Side of Old Mill Lane

The panel was scheduled to consider an amended scheme for land and buildings on the east side of Old Mill Lane, formerly 81-95 Sanvey Gate. The report indicated that the amended scheme was considered more acceptable in terms of its height, although judgment was reserved on its more detailed design. Discussions were anticipated regarding the building forming the datum line for future development that would extend the city core. Ultimately, the redevelopment of the site was viewed as acceptable in terms of its impact on the setting of relevant heritage assets. More generally, Neil Finn, who had previously investigated the site, was expected to draw attention to the archaeological interest of the location.

Trees outside City Rooms

The meeting was also scheduled to address the trees located outside the City Rooms on the corner of Hotel Street and Market Place South. The panel was expected to acknowledge the contribution and importance of trees in the urban environment, noting the hazards associated with removing long-established trees, such as the risk of ground heave and potential flooding impacts. However, attention was also to be drawn to the benefit of opening up views of the highly graded listed building. The root systems of larger trees were also identified as a potential risk to building foundations. A range of views were expected to be expressed, including comments on the potential for reducing the canopy of the trees and the fact that views opened up more seasonally.

Other Development Proposals

The panel was also scheduled to be informed of several other planning applications, which would not be presented unless a specific request was made. These included:

• 101-105 High Street, The High Cross: A change of use from a vacant shop (Class E) to a public house (Sui Generis), with an extension into the existing rear courtyard, a new HVAC system, shopfront alterations.
• 73 Granby Street, Ramada Jarvis (The Grand Hotel): Internal and external alterations to a Grade II listed building.
• 96a Clarendon Park Road: Construction of an upwards extension to create two self-contained flats, a front roof terrace and railings, and bin and cycle stores to the rear (Class C3).
• 64 St Barnabas Road: Replacement of an existing ground floor window and brickwork with a new access door.
• 50 Kate Street, Flats 1 and 2: Construction of a second floor above the existing building to extend two flats into two duplex flats (Class C3).
• 4 Birkdale Avenue: Construction of a porch at the front, installation of a uPVC window at the front, single-storey extensions at the side and rear, and a two-storey extension at the front, side, and rear.
• 49 Highfield Street: Change of use from a dwellinghouse (Class C3) to a house in multiple occupation for six persons (Sui Generis), with alterations.
• 19-21 Main Street, Evington: Addition of five Toledo Tropical Hardwood planters (HVM) in front of the shop (Class E).
• 60 Clarendon Park Road: Construction of a single-storey extension at the rear of the house (Class C3).
• 16 Ratcliffe Road: Demolition of an existing conservatory, construction of a single-storey extension at the rear of the house, and alterations (Class C3).
• 368 London Road, Gables Hotel: Installation of one non-illuminating fascia sign (Class C1).
• St Hugh's Parish Church, Sturdee Road: Installation of a cross with corpus measuring 2m x 1m on the east wall of the church tower (Class F1).
• 32 Ratcliffe Road, Inglewood: Construction of a single-storey extension at the rear of the house and internal and external alterations to a Grade II* listed building. The application site is Grade II* listed, adjacent to a Grade II listed building, and within the Stoneygate Conservation Area.
• 94-98 Regent Road: Change of use from educational use (Class F1) to student accommodation (16 cluster flats including 98 bedrooms) (Sui Generis), with construction of a single-storey extension at the front, an access gate, associated landscaping and parking, and alterations.
• 191 Ross Walk: Part-demolition, extension, and conversion of an existing building to create 54 flats and offices at lower ground floor (Use Class E(g)).
• 12 Lower Brown Street, Knightsbridge House: Change of use from office (Class E) to higher education (Class F1(a)).
• Leicester Central Fire Station, Lancaster Place: Internal and external alterations to a Grade II listed building, construction of steps to the rear, replacement door to the rear, installation of condensers, and alterations to the building (Sui Generis).
• 3 St James Street: Variation of conditions attached to a listed building consent and planning permission to allow new methods of strengthening the main hall roof and provide new details of roof strengthening.
• 1c Glenfield Road: Variation of a condition attached to a planning permission to allow the boundary wall to be constructed of brickwork in a mix of dark and red tones.
• 20 Stoughton Road: Rear extension to a garage and construction of a single-storey detached outbuilding at the rear of the house for use as a gym and summer room (Class C3).
• 198 London Road, The Old Horse: Installation of two internally illuminated fascia signs at the side of the pub (sui generis).
• Slater Street Primary School: Internal and external alterations to a Grade II listed building, including the replacement of two external windows with two external doors, and the installation of canopies.
• 195 Gwendolen Road: Demolition of units 1-12a, creation of additional parking spaces, and alterations to Unit 16 including new windows and roof panels (Class B2).

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:15 pm at City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ. The panel members included R. Gill (Chair), N. Feldmann (Vice Chair), Councillor Dr Susan Barton, M. Taylor, S. Bowyer, D. Martin, K. Walters, N. Finn, M. Davies, P. Ellis, C. Hossack, D. Fountain, S. Bird, S. Hartshorne, M. Richardson, Sanjeev Sharma, and student members S. Yazdan-Joo and K. Agyei. Officer contact was Justin Webber from the Conservation Team.