A Planning Appeal Decision has been made concerning the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre Conservation Area.
The Planning Inspectorate writes:
The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) against a refusal to grant planning permission. The development proposed is described as – Demolition and redevelopment of the Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre to provide mixed use development, comprising commercial use (Use Class E) on part of ground floor and 41 residential units (Use Class C3) with associated car and cycle parking, bin storage, access and other associated works (as amended)
Decision:
Ultimately, the public benefits of the scheme would not be of sufficient force to outweigh the less than substantial harm that would occur to the significance of the CA, including its townscape. It follows that the proposal would not be well designed and the harm without clear and convincing justification. The proposal would therefore be at odds with Policies LP9, LP37 and SP4 of the LP. There would be some enhancement of some townscape views, and therefore the proposal gleans support from Policy LP40. However, there would be a conflict with the development plan taken as a whole given the greater importance I place on the conflict with Policies LP9, LP37 and SP4.
In Conclusion
The proposal would be contrary to the development plan and there are no other considerations which outweigh this finding. Accordingly, for the reasons given, the appeal has failed.
