ENVIRONMENTAL watchdogs have launched a scathing attack on plans to redevelop part of a town’s conservation area.
Hexham Civic Society (HCS) says it is incredulous at plans for the listed former railway station goods yard which pay no heed to the special nature of the area.
HCS chairman Roger Higgins has branded the proposals from Rokeby Developments “manifestly low quality” and accused Northumberland County Council planners of risking capitulation to big business.
Eighteen separate objections have been made to the proposals for a 100-job, £8m retail park, which would include a number of national chains, such as Homebase DIY.
The case goes before the council’s west area planning committee on Wednesday for a decision, with planning officers recommending conditional permission be granted.
A report to the committee says: “The application presents a unique and important opportunity to secure significant employment opportunities and inward investment in Hexham on a site that relates to the town centre, and is well connected to pedestrian and public transport links.
“It would deliver much-needed small to medium-scale office/workshop space in a highly-sustainable location immediately next to the railway station and bus interchange.
“The proposal would preserve the character, appearance and setting of the Grade II-listed railway station.”
The report also accepts if would be regrettable to have to demolish three existing buildings which constitute non-designated heritage assets.
But it adds: “None of the buildings are considered to make a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the Hexham Conservation Area.
“The retention of the former stables building in particular would render the proposed redevelopment of the site financially unviable.”
However, Mr Higgins, in a strongly- worded representation to the council, says: “We ask you to consider that this scheme fails to take the opportunities provided for it by its conservation area context, and fails to respond positively to the setting of designated and undesignated historic assets both within and abutting the site.
“Clearly, both developer and agent have approached this unique site wilfully oblivious to its location as part of the setting for what is thought to be the second oldest operational railway station in the world, and a key site within Hexham’s Conservation Area.
“Hexham Civic Society wishes to see development on this site, but not at any cost.
“We do not believe that the developer should be lauded for the belated provision of a pedestrian access to the site, or for refraining from bricking up the windows of the Prosser engine shed, as was happening until Hexham Civic Society’s objections. We believe the justification for the demolition of the stables building and signalman’s bothy are spurious.”
Mr Higgins said he believed a better scheme meeting both the needs of the developer and the long-term interests of Hexham is achievable if a “robust and principled stance” is taken against the present proposals.
“The applicants must be pushed to reasonable limits, not capitulated to when they play their initial hand. Many would argue that they are most certainly pushing Hexham beyond its limits,” he says.
“The current proposals do nothing to counter the current decline of Hexham, but, on the contrary, do great damage to its remaining attractiveness and hence to its future prospects.”
Rokeby Developments director Adrian Goodall said: “On the whole, the application has been well received, but we have had a problem with the heritage lobby with concern expressed at the design materials.
“We have had regard to Hexham Civic Society’s concerns, and Hexham Town Council’s concerns. We are not steamrollering a particular scheme through.”
