By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There are fears the decision to grant permission for a pergola outside No131 has set a precedent which will lead to “all manner of structures” being built in front of buildings in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Civic Society who opposed both of Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton’s plans for a covered outdoor seating area in front of 129-133 Promenade fear the decision will impact the look of the spa town “for the rest of this century”.
The Civic Society along with Historic England, the Georgian Group and Cheltenham’s Architects Panel raised objections to the proposals.
However, Cheltenham Borough Councillors went against the professional expert advice of their officers at the planning committee meeting on February 13.
They had recommended refusing permission but the committee voted to grant permission for a metal pergola with a retractable roof by eight votes to three.
“This is very sad for Cheltenham,” Civic Society spokesperson Steve Bryson said reacting to the decision as the meeting concluded.
“We believe these restaurant awnings in front of the three of the town’s finest Regency villas are going to significantly harm the setting of the Imperial Square, which is one of the town’s crown jewels.
“We also think that our councilors have now set a very poor precedent which others will use to try to justify all manner of building schemes in front of existing buildings, whether they’re listed or not.
“That could adversely impact the look of Cheltenham for the rest of this century.
“We also think it’s a bit of an abuse of the planning process to allow documents to be submitted on the day of the decision leaving all the other interested parties absolutely no time to challenge the new assertions being made.
“The documents that were filed today about the economic impacts assessment contain more information, but nobody apart from the council’s own consultants have had a chance to actually respond to it at all. I don’t think that’s normal.
“It’s going to impact all the other people who live around Imperial Square or work around there because square will be damaged as a whole and it’s really important.
“And then we’ll start to see other applications coming in, not immediately, but over the next years or decades with anybody and everyone wanting to put extensions or independent buildings in front of existing buildings.
“That crosses the fundamental principle of line in planning where when you build a set of buildings, you have a building line, you don’t build in front of it without a great deal of justification.
“This will just act as a precedent which other people and developers will quote endlessly back at this council.
“The other thing, of course, is the economic arguments that the councilors seem to go for are just not justified in the reports, you know, their own experts have poo-pooed them.”
During the planning committee meeting Julian Dunkerton spoke of how he loves the town and is willing to invest in it.
He told councillors more than 2,000 people signed a petition in favour of the scheme and cited the £50 million he has invested in Cheltenham.
He also spoke of the challenges the hospitality industry is facing and the need for the proposals to be approved in order to safeguard 100 jobs at the site.
The decision was greeted with cheer and applause by many of those seated in the public gallery.
As the meeting concluded he said to the councillors: “Genuinely, I will make it work for Cheltenham. I love Cheltenham.
“The Liberal [Democrat] Party will get a good positive review.”