PLANNERS have rejected ambitious plans to restore a dilapidated historic World War 2 building on the site of the former Glazebrook Country Club into a respite/rehabilitation facility for veterans.
The scheme on green belt land is the latest in a long list of planning applications for the former Glazebrook Country Club, in Bank Street, Glazebrook, and was opposed by more than 20 local residents and the parish council.
In recent times it has been plagued by vandals and been subjected to various planning applications over the years. During the war it was a significant location for British, American and Canadian troops rehabilitating after active service.
The latest application, which has been rejected proposed partial demolition of main building; proposed extension to side, rear and raising roof of building; Change of use to form a respite/rehabilitation facility (including accommodation, meeting rooms, dining/kitchen facilities and a bar/lounge) together with construction of new vehicular access, car parking and associated works.
Planners said the application site was a vacant Sports and Social Club located within the rural Green Belt, there are a few residential properties sporadically located around the site but none fall within any designated Village or settlement area. It has been vacant for a number of years and is increasingly falling into disrepair due to its age, lack of use and constant vandalism.
The development proposed is for the raising of the roof on the newer 1980s two-storey addition to three-storeys and then extending this building with effectively a wrap around three-storey extension. To facilitate this a small single-storey part of the main building would be demolished. The development would also involve the construction of new vehicular access, the
changing of a large grassed / tree’d area to car parking and associated works to the east of the existing building.
The proposal would change the use of the site to a residential respite/rehabilitation facility; including: 21 en-suite bedrooms, 3 conference / meeting rooms, Bar / lounge room, Kitchen /Dining room, Proposed 34 parking spaces.
A total of 24 responses were received from members of the general public, all of which were objections. The following points were raised:
The surrounding highway network is inadequate and the safety of other users would be compromised. The generation of trips by car would be significant.
The proposed use is not suitable or necessary within the area. The site falls within an HS2 safeguarding area.
The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and does not meet the criteria for very special circumstances.
The operation of the proposed scheme would cause disruption and harm to the amenity of residents in the area. There is a lack of nearby facilities to serve visitors to the scheme.
The proposal will place a strain on drainage infrastructure. The design of the proposal, specifically the height, is incongruous. The construction phase of the proposal will cause disruption.
There has been a lack of public consultation prior to the application.
There was also strong opposition from the Parish Council.
Outlining reasons for refusal planners said the proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt as it would cumulatively result in disproportionate additions to the original Sports and Social Club buildings; inappropriate development is by definition harmful to the green belt.
Furthermore, the creation of a new access and large car parking area, including the removal of a number of trees, would also represent inappropriate development resulting in additional harm to the character and openness of the Green Belt. Very special circumstances to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt have not been demonstrated.
The poor design of the proposed building and its prominence on the street scene due to its close proximity to the highway and its massing is considered to result in an incongruous addition, detrimental to the street scene and local character
Bold plan to restore derelict WW2 building to its historic roots
