Replacement of defective lath and plaster ceilings with wood wool slabs.

The application was referred to the secretary of state for determination, in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Replacement of defective lath and plaster ceilings with wood wool slabs)

(Councillor Jeremy Milln as local ward member)

The planning officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution the local ward member, Councillor Jeremy Milln, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal points:

·        The Shirehall was the premier civic space in Hereford which was owned and maintained by Herefordshire Council.

·        The circumstances surrounding the work that had been undertaken constituted an offence under the listed building act for which there were no extenuating circumstances.

·        Following the collapse of the plaster in February 2019 the ceiling was removed without appropriate records kept. Works were carried out before an application was submitted.

·        The heritage impact assessment statement submitted with the application was not felt to be adequate.

·        The conservation officer considered the alterations of less than significant harm to the building however any work conducted without permission was still an offence.

·        It had been requested that a small amount of the plasterwork be retained however the work undertaken prior to March 2019 had caused damage to the plaster which was not reversible. It was not possible to reinstate the lath and plaster ceilings.

·        It was acknowledged that it was a difficult decision which the committee was required to take. The pragmatic approach would be to accept the issues that had occurred and approve the application; the Council had provided a report and explanation of why actions were undertaken following the collapse.

In the committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The problems associated with the works to the building and the retrospective application had been ongoing for a long period of time.

·        There was discomfort at the public perception of the application and the representations which referred to the actions taken as unlawful. It was queried whether an alternative process to determine the application could be undertaken.

·        It was commented that planning enforcement would be stringent in sanctioning an individual if they had committed a similar breach.

·        It was acknowledged that the council had encountered significant criticism for the actions it had undertaken and had learned lessons.

  In response to questions the Lead Development Manager commented:

·        The committee was not determining the application, it was agreeing its referral to the Secretary of State for determination with a minded to approve recommendation.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate. He commented that in future the highest standards for conservation must be upheld in Herefordshire and the national planning policy framework and core strategy must be used to protect heritage. It was also noted that Historic England had not advised but had deferred to the advice of the specialist conservation adviser.

Councillor David Summers proposed and Councillor Polly Andrews seconded a motion that the application is referred to the secretary of state in accordance with the printed recommendation. The motion was carried unanimously; 13 votes in favour.

 RESOLVED: That subject to consideration of any additional comments that may be received that raise material planning considerations, that the Planning Committee resolve to approve the works proposed and that the application is referred to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport  for determination subject to the conditions below and any other further conditions considered necessary