Planning – Application Comments

Consultation Date: Wed 26 Mar 2025

Consultation Date: Wed 26 Mar 2025

Consultation Date: Wed 26 Mar 2025

Comment Date: Fri 11 Apr 2025

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL CONSULTEE COMMENTS FOR A PLANNING APPLICATION.

PRE-APPLICATION SUMMARY
PLANNING APPLICATION: 25/00475/MOR
ADDRESS: 35 Durnford Street Plymouth PL1 3EU
DESCRIPTION: Pre-application for replacement of existing combustible cladding/external wall elements with non-combustible alternatives and associated works

CASE OFFICER: Sam Lewis (Planning Officer)
Development Management, PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

CONSULTEE: Gary Lester (Transport Officer)
PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Transport Planning Team, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

Date: 11th April 2025

PRE-APPLICTION COMMENTS:
The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would wish to raise any objections in principle to this pre-application proposal for the replacement of existing combustible wood cladding / external wall elements with non-combustible alternatives. That includes the associated cladding proposals to the exposed external steel work of the building, and the external rendered walls.

The application details confirm the aim is to improve the safety of residents by mitigating fire concerns, by replacing the existing exterior timber wall cladding with an alternative non-combustible material. Along with cladding the existing exposed exterior metalwork, beams/balconies etc, with coated aluminium panels. Whilst the exterior rendered walls are proposed to be clad using an external wall insulation system comprising of, a metal framework fixed to the face of the walls that would create a cavity, with mechanically fixed mineral wool insulation slabs, before applying a reinforced basecoat, with either a silicone render or acrylic brick-slip finish over.

Many of the rendered external walls of the habitable rooms of the building at street level are set back from the boundary line of the public highway/ back of footway. But because the proposed exterior wall insulation system would be fixed onto the existing walls, physically building out the exterior walls where applied, it would be important to ensure and demonstrate that where a wall is immediately adjacent to the public footway (as for example in Barrack Place) that the proposed exterior wall cladding would not impinge into the public highway at any point below a height of 2400mm when measured from the surface of the adjacent public footway. A requirement that would likely be recommended as a planning condition by the LHA as part of any full planning application.

PRE-APPLICATION SUMMARY:
The LHA would not object to this pre-application proposal for the replacement of the existing combustible wood cladding with a non-combustible material. But, as considered and described above, it would be important to ensure and demonstrate that any proposed exterior cladding and insulation fixed onto the outside of the building would not impinge into the public footway at street level, or the proposal would otherwise be likely to attract an objection from the LHA.


Gary Lester
Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the Service
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure