HTAG Guildford - The Founders Studio

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The Founders Studio

22 May 2006

Mr T Dawes
Dept of Environmental Planning Services
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB

Dear Tim,

RE: THE FOUNDERS STUDIO, MILLBROOK. PLANNING APPLICATION REFERENCE: 06/P/00914

Thank you for your written notification of the above planning application for the demolition of the current Founders Studio and the development of this site with a floor of retail units and six flats above.

We are extremely concerned with this proposal as we own and run the business from the Grade 2 listed '5 Quarry Street'. As the building owners, we are and continue to be committed to meeting the statutory obligations for the care and repair of a building that contributes to the historic character of Guildford. Number 5 Quarry Street contributes to the Conservation Area from three sides as it forms a prominent part of the streetscape of both Quarry Street and of Millbrook, as well as having an elevation facing onto the Grade 1 listed St Marys Church. (Which is, of course, not 'a traditional style Victorian church' as indicated in the applicant's design statement.) The Millbrook view has always been clearly identified as an important view to be retained at least since the designation of this Conservation Area.

GENUINE LOSS OF AMENITY AND INTIMIDATION BY OVERLOOKING
Both Number 5 and Number 6 Quarry Street have office accommodation that extends one storey below the Quarry Street level. The rear elevation of the new building will therefore stand two full storeys face to face with the rear elevation of Number 5. The ground level of the garden is generally lower than that of the churchyard, therefore standing in the garden, we will be able to look directly, from approximately two feet distance, into the second floor bedroom and bathroom windows of flat 3 and vica versa. Our lower ground floor office and kitchen windows will be at the same level as the two proposed second floor 'flat 3' rear windows. The third floor living room window of flat 5 will overlook our garden as well as looking directly into our ground floor rear office window. There will also be three rooflights that will be looking directly at our first floor office rear window.

This proposal will therefore cause a genuine loss of enjoyment to our building and its garden as a result of the three windows and three skylights that overlook the garden and the two windows that face onto the retaining wall just below our garden ground level, but that are within three feet of our garden thereby also causing further loss of privacy. The proposed change of use to residential flats will be intimidating to us as the proposed building grows out of the ground at our garden wall. It has no buffering space of it's own and is positively intrusive into what should be considered normal and decent levels of privacy. The existing building has no windows that directly overlook our building and is therefore no problem to us. Its roofline gives the original intended views to the River and the Mill.

These proposed flats that rely on daylight and outlook taken from neighbours are fundamentally flawed at conceptual level. A block of flats needs windows, and there is nowhere on this site to put windows that are decent either for the neighbours or for the occupiers of the proposed flats.

The bulking and scale of the proposed new building is also overbearing to our Grade 2 listed building as well as the neighbouring number 6 Quarry Street, and it also compromises the setting of the Grade 1 listed St Marys Church. It will steal our views out towards the river (protected under policy HE10 of the local plan) and some of our daylight, which is also against planning policy G1 (3) 4.9.

MASSING
The view of the side of our building and the proposed new building from across the churchyard as you walk along Quarry Street from the High Street is also important. This proposed building will seriously compromise the massing in this part of the Conservation Area. Additionally the bulking of a building of this type ' should preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area' Chapter 11 - Historic Environments HE7.

THE CHESTNUT TREE
The comments made by the two Arboriculturalists are inconsistent with regards to both the current health of the 'already damaged' Chestnut Tree (which was ruthlessly cut-back a little over a year ago in anticipation of these applications - without the required permissions) and the likely effects of further cropping, should this proposal be granted.

VIEWS OF THE QUARRY STREET 'BACKS' FROM MILLBROOK
The scaling of the 'streetscene' drawing from Millbrook gives a deceptive context to the proposed building as this view as drawn can never be appreciated from Millbrook. The upper half of the rear elevation of Number 5 and number 6 is currently visible as one walks towards the High Street from the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. The view of the backs of Numbers 5 and 6 will be obliterated by this new building due to the perspective related to standing at street level.

APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT
Finally the change of use of this building from GSA use to one for commercial gain would appear to be in direct contravention of the 'Surrey Design' guide policy SE4, which makes reference to the way both the buildings and their design should 'integrate with their surroundings'.

We hope to hear from you in due course

Yours sincerely

John N Harridge and Niki J Harridge (Mrs)