Planning Application BH2024/02864 Objection
Planning Application BH2024/02864, Park View Hotel, 71 Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6LD
Erection of a goal post awning to customer terrace at the front of The Park View public house (retrospective).
I am writing this objection to the above application on behalf of the Brighton Society Committee. I am a member of the committee.
1.0 Previous correspondence
On the 4th April 2024 I wrote to the Planning Enforcement portal of the council on behalf of the Brighton Society informing the Enforcement Group of the erection of a substantial structure in the front garden of the Park View Hotel.
I wrote In terms of “unauthorised changes” my submission was “A massive steel structure for outdoor dining has been constructed in front of the hotel. Approximately 5 metres high, partly obscuring the Victorian building. The property is within the Preston Park Conservation Area which has Article 4 Direction regulations. It appears that no planning application has been submitted”.
In terms of “problems caused as a result of the unauthorised changes” my submission was “Severe visual harm to this significant building within the Preston Park Conservation area, which has Article 4 Direction regulations restricting any changes to the front elevation of buildings within the conservation area”.
This was followed by correspondence with Emma J Lawrence of the Enforcement Team in April 2024.
In an email of 9th April she wrote “I am going to contact the manager of the pub, advising him to contact head office regarding the unauthorized structure. I am not inviting retrospective planning application and will be requesting that it is removed within a certain timescale or the council will serve an Enforcement Notice.
Having stated that there would not be any invitation for a retrospective planning application it is a surprise to discover that such an application has been submitted.
2.0 Brighton Society comments on the retrospective planning application.
The Park View Hotel is situated on a prominent corner between Surrenden Road and Preston Drove within the Preston Park Conservation Area. The Character Statement emphasises the high quality of the architectural detailing of the buildings in the Conservation Area and the importance of the vistas and views within the area.
The Park View Hotel is a prominent building in the conservation area and is an excellent example of a high-quality Victorian building with much brick detailing. It is situated on an elevated and prominent corner and as a consequence can be viewed from many locations within the conservation area. As a consequence, the building should be regarded as providing a significant visual contribution to the conservation area.
The construction of a steel structure that partially obscures the front elevation of the building should therefore be regarded as significant in terms of the visual appearance of the building and the overall appearance of the conservation area. It should be regarded as bringing severe detrimental effect to the appearance of the building and the conservation area.
Photo 1 shows the appearance of the building in 2009 with no structures in the front garden. Photo 2 is from 2021 showing the canvas umbrella like shelters erected around that time. Photos 3 and 4 show the steel awning now in place – in the closed and open positions. The photo was taken from the public footpath and clearly illustrates how the structure permanently obscures the front elevation of the building. Unlike previous awnings the new steel awning is permanent and as a consequence brings a severe deterioration in the appearance of the building.
The previous canvas umbrella like structures were much smaller and only used when customers required shelter and were closed for long periods of time. The new steel structure obscures the building at all times – even when in the closed position it remains a substantial structure obscuring the view of the building. The erection of this structure should be regarded as a significant change bringing severe detrimental alterations to the appearance of the Park View Hotel.
Article 4 Direction regulations were introduced in 2001 to prevent the alterations to the front elevations of buildings which were harming the character of the conservation area. The erection of a 3.7 metre high steel structure covering a plan area of 80 square metres in the front garden of the property can only regarded as an action that goes against all the aims of why Article 4 Direction regulations.
Considering Brighton and Hove ‘s Planning Regulations for Conservation areas, the erection of the steel permanent structure must be regarded as being contrary to Policies HE3 and HE6 of the Brighton & Hove Plan, Policies CP13 and CP15 of the City plan One and Policies DM26 and DM29 of the submission City Plan Part Two.
We therefore submit that the Application should be rejected with enforcement action taken for the removal of the structure.
Malcolm Dawes (on behalf of the Brighton Society)
How petty you are to do this. If it’s that bad how come none of the local residents or neighbours have complained. I have passed your details on to the pub (and others in the area so you can be barred for life).
This is petty nonsense and the world has gone made, pubs are struggling and many are closing every day and all this pub is trying to do is support it’s customers and keep trading. For a start the before and after pictures have conviently been taken from different angles to make the structure look worse. My suggestion is it should be put to an open vote.
I’m sorry but this is outrageous. As stated above, the photos ‘from this’ / ‘to this’ show two entirely different angles. It obviously was not as ‘unattractive’ as you would have liked it to be if you had used exactly the same angle. There are bigger fish to fry in this city so please cast your ‘well intentioned’ gaze elsewhere and leave this popular and well run pub alone. You cannot have escaped the fact that your actions have drawn almost universal condemnation here and on other forums.
I’ve written to B&H Planning Enforcement to raise my concern about proportionallity of the enforcement action. I’ve also written to the Presont Park Ward Councillors; Steve Davis, Liz Loughran and Kerry Pickett stating my concern about the outcome and its potenial impact on a valued community business. Such a shame B&H would do this to a well managed establishment.
I think its good it gone, the pub is one of 250 the company owns and it will not affect the balance sheet.
Keep up the standards I say as we are all on a slippery sloop !