When we wrote in September we mentioned the concerns of the Guildford planners on
two significant issues. Much time has been spent in trying to address the concerns
of the planners and we are now able to update you with what seems like much more
encouraging news, as well as other developments in our plans for the second phase.
The planners had expressed concern about the design of the roof of the first floor
extension over the new toilets, designed to accommodate the top of the new staircase
to the meeting room over the kitchen. They were also concerned that the front extension
was extending too far towards the road.
We feel it is important to try to meet the needs of with our neighbours. We will
therefore minimise the space we have at the top of the staircase, resulting in limited
storage and no office space. This will have much less impact on the view from their
garden as well as addressing concerns of the planners, and probably be a little cheaper.
We have produced a before and after sketch, shown below.
This should be a little cheaper, and seems to satisfy the planning officer, protruding
about 1.3m less towards the road. This is only an informal view, but it is likely
to carry weight. There now seems a good prospect that this plan will receive a planning
consent. Our architects are completing their drawings and concluding tree and environmental
surveys so that our formal planning application can be submitted before Christmas.
We also need from the diocese a "faculty" approving the changes. We are submitting
our latest plans to the Diocesan Advisory Committee, hopefully to receive their support,
as they largely reflect their earlier suggestions. We hope therefore that by some
time in February we will have a planning consent and support from the diocese.
The other big issue is securing the necessary funding. By the time we get the consent
we will hopefully have in hand almost half the total cost of the project, but will
clearly need to mount a significant campaign to get the balance. However, the amount
collected to date shows that the total is achievable. We are very hopeful that the
members of the church will continue to show the tremendous support they have up till
now, not just financially.
It would be very helpful to be able to carry out the works over the summer of 2012.
If we are to achieve this, a large sum of money will need to be raised in comparatively
a short period of time. In January, the PCC will consider the timing of the project.
The progress is encouraging, and once we achieve a planning consent we can move
forward with much more confidence.
Michael Pocock
December 2011
Both neighbours felt able to support our ideas for the front extension, the improved
look seeming to very much outweigh it being closer to the road. In spite of this,
the planning officer was still concerned, even after we had met the local councillor.
At one stage, we feared we might have to cut back on the facilities for the pre-school
or change to a much less attractive design.
Fortunately, we have managed to find a changed layout, keeping the same amount of
meeting space, toilets and storage, but with the cleaners' cupboard slightly smaller.
This revised layout is shown below.
