Description
This brownfield site of 0.21 hectares was occupied by housing and gardens prior to the Second World War and is currently in industrial and business use. It consists of low quality single and two-storey industrial buildings and surface car parking. It lies within a mixed residential, industrial and commercial area of the city centre.
The site is bounded by Oak Street to its west, Sussex Street to the north and Chatham Street to the east. There is housing surrounding the eastern side of the site and commercial uses to the west and south, along with the listed Great Hall on the opposite side of Oak Street.
Explanatory text
The site is located in northern part of the city centre and is covered by the adopted NCCAAP. Therefore the principle of development in this area should be consistent with the proposals in the NCCAAP, to reinstate the residential street frontage and provide family housing in this part of the northern city centre.
The site provides the opportunity for new housing on a brownfield site with excellent access to jobs and services in the city centre and neighbouring shopping facilities at Anglia Square/St Augustine’s/Magdalen Street Large district centre.
The City centre conservation area appraisal identifies the site as being part of the “Northern Riverside” area of the city centre, in which former industrial and commercial uses are steadily being converted to or replaced by housing. The Oak Street area north of the ring road is particularly identified as a major development opportunity.
Mid 19th century terraced houses to the east of the site on Sussex Street and Chatham Street are locally listed and houses further east on Sussex Street are listed. The appraisal identifies the rest of Sussex Street as a positive frontage and as one of the most interesting streets of its type in the city centre. Chatham Street beyond the site is identified as providing a positive vista towards landmarks within the city centre. The Great Hall, west of the site on the opposite side of Oak Street, is a 15th century grade II listed building.
However, the appraisal identifies the site itself as containing negative buildings and negative vistas on Sussex Street and Oak Street.
As a result, redevelopment of this site represents an opportunity to reinstate the historic building line along Sussex Street, as well as Oak Street and Chatham Street. This will complete the terrace on the south of Sussex Street and provide an improved setting for the Great Hall listed building. In addition development may need to address possible contamination issues.
An archaeological investigation will be required prior to development.
The main access should be from Sussex Street.
Deliverability
The site has planning permission for residential units with an element of commercial development.
The site is suitable and available for development.
POLICY CC19: Furniture Store, 70 to 72 Sussex Street – housing development
The site (0.21 hectares) is allocated for housing development (approximately 15 dwellings), with at least 50 per cent of units for occupation by families with children.
Access will be taken from Sussex Street.
Design of the development should ensure reinstatement of historic building lines on Sussex Street, Oak Street and Chatham Street.
