North Laine shop owner can build an extra storey for flat

Councillors backed plans to add an extra storey to a building in the North Laine area of Brighton and restore its traditional shop front.

Welstead Properties, which owns The Roastery by Trading Post at 13-14 Sydney Street, plans to add a floor to create a three-bedroom flat.

The company, owned by Michael Singh Deol, 55, also plans to create two bay windows on the first floor, replace the shop front and build a second-floor roof terrace with privacy screening.

The premises is in the North Laine Conservation Area and 18 objections were sent to Brighton and Hove City Council about the plans including one from the North Laine Community Association.

Yesterday (Wednesday 5 November) the council’s Planning Committee approved the plans in a meeting at Hove Town Hall.

Two neighbours, from nearby Tidy Street, spoke against the application as did Green councillor Ellen McLeay, who represents West Hill and North Laine.

One of the objectors, Hugo Butterworth, said that the proposed extension was “significantly larger” than other buildings in Sydney Street and would result in an “oppressive blank wall looming” over their back gardens.

Mr Butterworth said: “This development is a gross overstepping of the checks and balances which have protected the North Laine for many years.

“This marks a critical moment and, if permitted, the development will set a dangerous precedent to encourage the mass over-development of other buildings and properties. The entire landscape of North Laine could drastically change as a result.”

Another Tidy Street resident, Zoe Robinson, said that the three-storey structure would be within 4ft of the rear boundary wall, which would be “unprecedented” in the conservation area.

She said: “Houses in Tidy Street currently have unobstructed views from the first floor and loft rooms over the current two-storey flat roof.

“The proposal will present residents with a sheer, faceless wall and roof. The scale and massing of the development is inappropriate and will dwarf the modest two-storey houses in Tidy Street.”

Councillor McLeay said: “While improvements to the shop front may offer some aesthetic benefits, this application raises serious concerns about scale, character and amenity within the North Laine Conservation Area.

“The development is out of scale and character. The North Laine is defined by its low-rise nature and balanced streetscape.”

Mr Deol’s agent, Nick Strickland, architecture director at Strickland Wright, said that the design had come forward after discussions with conservation officers to improve the building which was “incongruous” within Sydney Street.

He said that the building was unusual for Sydney Street because it was double-fronted. Before housing The Roastery by Trading Post, it housed Cyberdog and, before that, Gunn’s Florist.

He said: “Our proposal seeks to restore features which prevail within the conservation area (including) traditional sash windows, parapet cresting, shop front with coporal brackets and traditional fascias.”

Labour councillor Julie Cattell cited the daylight and sunlight report and said that there would be a minimal loss of light to neighbours. She was unconcerned by the balcony.

Councillor Cattell said: “It’s quite hard. You’d have to be really keen to want to peer into your neighbours’ windows to see anything from that balcony. It’s just the way the science works.

“One of the best things about the North Laine for me is the variation of the roof-scape. It’s great.”

Labour councillor Paul Nann said: “From above, that building is a blot on the landscape and it does spoil what’s a really interesting roof-scape.

“When you look at the plans, it feels like a restoration rather than a development so I feel quite positive about it.”

Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said that she was torn because three storeys seemed out of place.

Councillor Theobald said: “Heritage (officials) seem very happy with this and it would be nice to have the features back on the shop front.

“Perhaps there is some benefit in this but I do feel sorry in case it does upset the people in Tidy Street.”