We were asked last week about the front of the Asda site in Rawreth Lane Rayleigh. We have had the following update from an officer at the District Council:
“The recent signage announcing the new development relates to the mixed use building comprising three commercial units at ground floor with 23 affordable flats that was granted permission at the meeting of 25th February 2010 under application reference 10/00021/FUL. It is the scheme that incorporates a roof garden but with the more domestic design that members considered better.”
We understand that the partners Sanctuary are keen to show their involvement. The development is due to commence shortly so the signage has gone up…
When the scheme was passed last year we wrote on onlinefocus:
The latest application was for 3 commercial units and 23 affordable flats in a more traditional, attractive design that we thought fitted in much better with Rawreth Lane. They provided extra garden space by having roof gardens.
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Ron and Chris had the chance to meet with Coral and a council officer soon after the application went in, to get a better understanding of the scheme and suggest some improvements. For example:
# There is a condition that ?no amplified speech or music shall be broadcast on the open areas of the site.
# There is an extra planting area / barrier at the northern end of the roof garden to prevent easy overlooking onto Rawreth Lane.
# The height of the stairwells on the roof has been reduced.
# There is a condition to prevent the three small commercial units from being converted into one big takeaway
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Under the planning rules, Chris and Ron couldn?t confer in advance of the meeting. But we came to similar conclusions:
# disappointment that we haven?t got a building of more benefit to the general community
# a feeling that the latest building was more attractive to look at and offered a better quality of life for those living there
# some uncertainty as how the roof gardens will work out in practice
# a feeling that this was the best we could get here!
Thanks for the update, let’s wait and see how this works out with the additional parking etc……