Having had a bit of a chat with various people involved in the Pleasurama development, it seems that a rather peculiar catch situation is developing. This is because the council granted planning permission for a building that doesn’t actually fit in the space available on the site. Now the job of amending the plans so the building does have been passed to yet another of PRCs architects, who faces a difficult problem.It is becoming increasingly clear that there is only room for a 4 story building, where planning permission has been granted for a 5 story building. Taking out a whole floor, the flats that would have been contained in it and would have sold for over £6 million, is hardly going to be popular with the developer. There is also the problem that any building, that is going to fit in the space available, will be so different from the plans that were passed that new planning permission will have to be sought. As the building lies in a high-risk flood zone any new planning application will mean that the environment agency would now insist on a flood risk assessment and proper emergency escapes to the cliff top.
There is also the added complication that with a new planning application, it would seem likely that the council would insist on a much higher quality of build, especially in terms of traditional building materials.
I gather that some rather unusual plans have been drawn where the road at the back and some of the car park has been raised, this is to deal with the problem of the sea sweeping round the back of the building in a storm. There has also some suggestion of a strengthened glass front, for the conference centre, hotel and other businesses, I wonder if glass sea defences could catch on elsewhere. This will have to be pretty thick glass I should think, to deal with the eventualities of a tidal surge storm, in the 1953 storm a 12 ton crane was picked up by the wave action, from where it had been working on the beach and deposited on the promenade where the new building will be.
Perhaps if the China Gateway application is passed later this week, in five years time the plans will have made it to the desk of the same architect at PRC for a novel solution.
The development now has its own website click here to view one would have thought after 5 years of local interest it would have a little more information on it.
That website says it all really. I see that, like China Gate, we're beginning to hear about 'phases' for this development. What's that all about? And when will the last phase be completed? 2020?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the morality of Terence Painter taking 'orders' in advance from prospective purchasers? In these economically difficult times and given the fiasco that PRC have created here one might be considered fool-hardy to become separated from hard readies by placing a deposit. PRC seem to have a gift for producing very pretty pictures for its clients but little else. The news that TDC cannot wriggle out of EA advice regarding these flats being in a flood zone is comforting; or is it? On second thoughts, no.
ReplyDeleteMichael you are OK. You were right all along. Now you let the truth do the talking without any hint of a told you so.
ReplyDeleteGood form sir.