Planners still gunning for 'historic' cottages
Monday, 2nd December 2013.
It is possible the controversial historic cottages in Haverhill High Street will only survive long enough to go to auction next month, if planners get their way.
The cottages, which owners Havebury Housing Partnership want to demolish and replace with new flats, were reprieved when local residents' objections persuaded councillors to refuse their consent to the demolition last month.
However, new rules on conservation area applications, just brought in by the Government, mean that approval is no lobger needed for demolition in a conservation area.
Havebury's plan to build the new flats on the site at 85/87 High Street, including demolition of the cottages, is therefore before St Edmundsbury Borough Council's development control committee this week.
Residents say Havebury have agreed they will auction the cottages first, but any buyer will have to work fast because they claim the building is now a danger to the public.
The plan had been deferred after the conservation area application was refused last month, but is now presented with a recommendation by the planning officers for approval because they say the cost of renovating the cottages is so great it outweighs any small historical value they have.
Independent surveys have suggested it would cost over £300,000 to bring the cottages back into habitable condition, and they would then only be worth around £130,000.
Havebury say the 200-year-old cottages, now subject to subsidence, are a danger to the public and a swift decision is needed for something to be done about it.
They have agreed to put them up for auction at £50,000-£70,000 in Ipswich next month. If this planning application falls they will have to reconsider what to do with the whole site.
If it succeeds and there is no buyer at the auction, demolition could take place straightaway and planners say there is a need for the six affordable flats the scheme would provide.
Councillors will be presented at the meeting with three other applications to build in Haverhill town centre, all including affordable housing.
The cottages, which owners Havebury Housing Partnership want to demolish and replace with new flats, were reprieved when local residents' objections persuaded councillors to refuse their consent to the demolition last month.
However, new rules on conservation area applications, just brought in by the Government, mean that approval is no lobger needed for demolition in a conservation area.
Havebury's plan to build the new flats on the site at 85/87 High Street, including demolition of the cottages, is therefore before St Edmundsbury Borough Council's development control committee this week.
Residents say Havebury have agreed they will auction the cottages first, but any buyer will have to work fast because they claim the building is now a danger to the public.
The plan had been deferred after the conservation area application was refused last month, but is now presented with a recommendation by the planning officers for approval because they say the cost of renovating the cottages is so great it outweighs any small historical value they have.
Independent surveys have suggested it would cost over £300,000 to bring the cottages back into habitable condition, and they would then only be worth around £130,000.
Havebury say the 200-year-old cottages, now subject to subsidence, are a danger to the public and a swift decision is needed for something to be done about it.
They have agreed to put them up for auction at £50,000-£70,000 in Ipswich next month. If this planning application falls they will have to reconsider what to do with the whole site.
If it succeeds and there is no buyer at the auction, demolition could take place straightaway and planners say there is a need for the six affordable flats the scheme would provide.
Councillors will be presented at the meeting with three other applications to build in Haverhill town centre, all including affordable housing.
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