The project featured a Roman visitor attraction and 10 storey building of 211 apartments and office space. It was turned down by a majority vote at a planning meeting on Wednesday. The developers - a partnership between York Archaeological Trust, North Star and Rougier Street Developments - could now appeal the decision to the planning inspector and submit a fresh application to City of York Council. A spokesperson for the developers said they are currently considering all options. Supporters have shared their disappointment over the decision. Shaun Collinge, who runs The Maltings near the site, said the verdict was a bit of a shock, adding: The area I believe has been neglected in recent years and is in need of a regeneration programme.
Proposals to demolish an art deco-inspired 1930s department store in the West Country and replace it with a 92-home apartment building are being opposed by a range of heritage groups.
Architect AWW’s plans for the Taunton branch of Debenhams were drawn up for developer Ropemaker Properties and would deliver ground-floor commercial space in addition to the new town-centre flats.
However campaign group the Twentieth Century Society argues that the building – built in 1938 and expanded in the 1960s in a way that complemented the original structure – should be retained and converted to deliver new homes instead.
The group said changing shopping trends coupled with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic had plunged the future of an increasing number of 20
Developers Ropemaker Properties want to demolish the premises in North Street after the store closes. In its place, they have revealed proposals to build 92 apartments over three floors, along with ground floor commercial outlets, parking and landscaping. PROPOSALS: Image of how the proposed new building could look But Twentieth Century Society, which campaigns for the preservation of architectural heritage from 1914 onwards, is opposing the plans. C20 Society caseworker Coco Whittaker said: We believe the existing building could be sympathetically converted for residential use and need not be demolished. The store makes a great contribution to the streetscape and has an interesting history, being built in two phases.
High priority for the UK government right now? Statues, of course. A statement released by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick to both Houses of Parliament this week introduces new legislation which, it is claimed, will be as important in heritage terms as the introduction of Conservation Areas in 1967. The removal of ‘historic statues, plaques and other monuments will now require full planning permission’ under the mantra of ‘retain and explain’, regardless of whether they are already listed or not. Historic England will oversee what is proposed and the Secretary of State will be the final arbiter if requests from local councils are judged questionable.