College plans thrown outThe college wanted to build the £1.6m facility to house its new construction and the built environment diploma course, ready to open in April or May.
Despite receiving more than 200 objections to the scheme, city council planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval,
But members of the planning committee went against their advice to vote five to four in favour of refusing planning permission, claiming the development would spoil the character of a conservation area, and citing other concerns including loss of privacy and damage to trees.
About 40 members of the public attended yesterday's planning meeting at City Hall, a number speaking out against the college's proposals.
Kate Bell said that siting the new facility behind the existing late-Victorian Thetford Building would be like “building in abattoir in a churchyard”.
Dick Palmer, college principal, told the meeting: “This would be a flagship facility we don't believe exists elsewhere. It's an environmentally sound building and a living exemplar of sustainability.”
After the meeting, protest group CRC (College Redevelopment Concerns) said in a statement: “We will remain supportive of improvements to education facilities at City College, but any improvements need to blend in with the neighbourhood. This building clearly did not.
“The college needs to archive these ridiculous plans and start the process from the beginning with full and proper discussions with local residents.”
Town Close Residents' Group said: “We are pleased with this decision, and glad that the conservation area, its trees and the setting of the historic Thetford Building will be preserved.
“We hope that in future the college will involve residents at an earlier stage in the planning process so that we can work together to ensure the best educational facilities for the city whilst preserving the city's important heritage and habitat.”
Rejection puts college plans in doubt
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| How the site would have looked |
31 July 2008 15:57
The future of a new diploma course at Norwich City College is in jeopardy after plans to build a new state-of-the-art building to house the students in were rejected.
The college had proposed to build a £1.6m facility to house its new Construction and the Built Environment Diploma course which will begin in September.
Despite receiving more than 200 objections to the scheme, city council planning officers had recommended it for approval,
However, at a highly-charged meeting yesterday, members of the planning committee went against this to vote five to four in favour of refusing planning permission, claiming the development would spoil the character of a conservation area, as well as citing other concerns including loss of privacy and damage to trees.
Following the decision, Dick Palmer, principle of the college, said the long-term future of the course was now uncertain, although this year's would begin as planned in September.
He added: “I'm pleased everybody was positive about the general concept developing the main site and the need for it, but I'm worried now young people of Norwich and Norfolk won't get the facilities they deserve and a building which would take forward low carbon and sustainability.
“I'm very disappointed as the time issue is critical because the new course starts in September. We had plans in place to house the students until the new building but that was only short term. It does put the future in jeopardy and the sustainability of the site. We need to go back and have a look.”
About 40 members of the public attended the planning meeting at City Hall, a number speaking out against the college's proposals.
Speaking in front of the committee, Kate Bell said that citing the new facility behind the existing late-Victorian Thetford Building would be like “building in abattoir in a churchyard”.
But Shane Mann, president of the Student's Union, said: “In terms of the building itself the students are pleased and excited by the design. It's eye catching and would inspire young people to come to the college.”
Protest group CRC (College Redevelopment Concerns), said in a statement: “We will remain supportive of improvements to education facilities at City College, but any improvements need to blend in with the neighbourhood. This building clearly did not.
“The college needs to archive these ridiculous plans and start the process from the beginning with full and proper discussions with local residents.”
College bosses said they had not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.
The plans are not linked to the college's ambitious multi-million pound revamp.
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