Proposals for over-intensive development is a frequent cause of Trustees' comment on planning applications. Apart from the unfortunate application for Brown's Boathouse, other obvious recent examples have been the proposal for three four-storey townhouses at the bottom of South Street, on the small car space opposite the Library entrance, and the proposed conversion of the former joiners' workshop in Holly Street to residences. The latter change of use is acceptable, but not the single garage space for the occupants of 15 bedrooms incorporated in the conversion. (The Authority disagreed).
Over-intensification also surely applies to the New College proposal to dispose of the Neville's Cross campus and to concentrate on the Framwellgate Moor site. Apart from repercussions on the surrounding area, there is just no space at all for any further expansion on its northern site in what is acknowledged to be a growth industry. ('Education, education, education'?).
Since its reorganisation, the East Durham and Houghall Community College has expanded its advertising banners and posters, including new white hoarding signs inappropriate in its green belt location - and ahead of any submitted planning application. Retrospective applications are unfortunately all too common. Among the most recent examples has been one associated with Dryburn Hospital, with a sizeable carparking expansion for nurses off the hospital campus at North End. The subsequent application was for temporary use, despite the existing hardcore and part tarmac finish!
(Latest news: The Journal [February 8] reports that the City Council has given retrospective permission for the work after the health trust apologised. A council spokekesperson said: "It is regrettable that the development was virtually completed prior to the submission of this application, the applicants were under a great deal of pressure to resolve the situation. They are deeply apologetic to the City Council for the infringement and any embarassment caused.")
Trustees previously queried the wisdom of the move of the Chief Executive and staff to rented premises in the Prince Bishops scheme. There is currently an application for its entrance to be fitted with a roller security screen of the type which has previously been refused elsewhere for creating a 'dead' frontage.
Finally, to return to Walkergate. When this scheme was given detailed permission in September, Trustees wrote to the Department of the Environment, Transport, and the Regions for answers to a few key questions which had never been answered, not least the total silence on an Environmental Impact Assessment - see Bulletin 45. Trustees were advised to address these questions to the Local Authority. This we did on 9 October, with a reminder letter on 15 December. More than three months later we still await even an acknowledgement.