Queen Adelaide pub owners at heart of 2013 planning dispute

The proposed construction of five new 2 bedroom & 3 three-bedroom houses on unused allotment land adjacent the Queen Adelaide public house in Windmill lane, St Ann’s, has now gone to appeal following the City Council’s refusal of planning permission in February 2012.

 The owners of the Queen Adelaide pub would like to develop the land.

The Queen Adelaide pub is shown at the bottom right of this proposed plan.

Historically Dakeyne Street, which is a cul-de-sac, terminates immediately adjacent to the sites’ western boundary. The grounds of a County Lunatic Asylum were once present immediately to the west side of this street and comprise several large buildings and landscaped pedestrian areas. In addition, at the side of the Adelaide pub there were once 3 small buildings used as Lace Dressing Dooms at the turn of the century. However, the land has been derelict & unused for the last 110 years.

The Appeal under the Town & Country Planning Act was submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment on 29 December.

The plans by Adelaide Properties Ltd, who are based in Calverton, would see the erection of five three-bed dwellings on vacant land to the south of the public house. The dwellings would be two storeys in height and would front Windmill Lane. A private car parking area would be provided to the rear of the dwellings, accessed from and shared with the pub car park access drive. Access to the rear gardens of the dwellings would be from the car park area. A retaining wall would be erected to facilitate containment of the gardens and car park.

However, for the City Council the Development Department said “The proposed dwellings, by virtue of their size and location, would have a detrimental impact upon the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring property by way of their effect on the immediate outlook from 83, 85 Walker Street and 47 Windmill Lane, contrary to Policy BE3 of the Nottingham Local Plan November 2005.

“The proposal would fail to provide secure private space to the rear and would result in an Inconvenient layout for the occupiers of the dwellings contrary to Policy BE2 of the Nottingham Local Plan November 2005.”

In its appeal submission the Developer says “Whilst the Local Authority use the wording 'despite attempts to negotiate improvements'. The applicant carried out a pre application consultation with the planning officer dealing with the application and was on the understanding that the scheme was acceptable. The issues which lead to the refusal only came to light when senior planning officers & the Local Authorities Design Consultant became involved. The appellant is satisfied that the design of the development fronting Windmill Lane has been set at a level & with an orientation so as not to affect 83, 85 Walker Street & 47 Windmill Lane.”

A decision is expected in the summer of 2013