Issue - meetings

Recommendation: Conditional approval

Items 16 and 17 were debated together due to their associated nature, with sperate votes having taken place. The substantive combined minutes are contained within minute item 16.

Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey declared an interest in this application and left the room for its duration. Andrew Mickleburgh became the Vice-Chair in the chair.

Proposal: Householder application for proposed single storey rear extension, installation of glazed turret spiral staircase, extension of existing first floor roof terrace with 2No. rooflights, new terracing, lawns and stone pathing to the rear, and associated fenestration, following removal of integral spiral staircase.

Applicant: Mr and Miss Paul and Sarah Warn and Perkins

The Committee considered a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 345 to 382.

The Committee were advised that there were no updates contained within the Supplementary Planning Agenda.

Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, Wokingham Town Council, spoke in objection to the application. Imogen stated that this application involved a listed building within the conservation area of Wokingham and was the former home of William Martin who was the mayor of Wokingham Town Council. Martin’s pool was an outdoor pool area which was built by Martin using his own money, and it included bridges, fountains, rockeries and caves within a grotto. Imogen recalled the outrage when the pool was sold and demolished by Wokingham District Council. Imogen raised concerns in relation to the rockery, which was constructed in the 1920’s in the same style as Martin’s pool whilst originally being open to the public. Imogen felt that the information contained within the third party heritage report did not fully acknowledge the full heritage of the site. Imogen understood that the current family wished to modernise their space, however felt that Wokingham would lose some of its heritage should the rockery be removed completely, which the Wokingham Society concurred with.

Paul Warn, applicant, spoke in support of the application. Paul stated they had purchased the property as they loved its history and they had previously owned a listed building in Barkham. On purchase, they had accepted that the property did require significant investment to move it towards its next stage and to futureproof it for future owners. The design brief was to preserve and blend with significant historical features whilst improving upon some of the functional aspects to be more in keeping with modern living. A lot of work and efforts had gone in to ensuring that guidelines and policies were followed, including working closely with architects, undertaking historical research, and commissioning a detailed heritage assessment. There was a desire to restore the prominent historical Italianate aspect of the garden, the cross pond and associated brick works and to bring this design into a new terrace to replace the current rockery transition from the back of the house and the existing Italianate aspect. Paul stated that it was a key to the redevelopment was to use reclaimed bricks and replicating wall and pillar design seen in the existing Italianate garden and within the former Martin’s pool. The current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16