Frank Wright & Camilla Ryan (by email)

[In the report to the Planning Committee, the scale and nature of the building work proposed are recognised as harmful to the CA  and yet there seems to be a presumption of acceptance of the plan based on that fact that the applicant is a school. However, case law points to  presumption of refusal as the starting point where a conservation area is concerned.]  This section may be omitted as it is covered by a previous speaker. 

Over the years,  we have seen a great increase in the use of Albert Park area.  More and more people are appreciating the resource they have on their door step, a resource that the whole community can enjoy.   And it is not just a green space – it is also an architectural entity – a Victorian park with its surrounding houses and villas, laid out over 100 years ago. 

This proposal aims to take Crescent House, extend it hugely into a new context of modern school buildings, changing the character of this end of Park Crescent irretrievably.  If the proposal is accepted, we – the community – will have lost something unique and separate, and – crucially –  something  that has been identified as worthy of protection as it is an integral part of the Albert Park  conservation area.  And, given the scale of what is being proposed, who can say that this is ‘less than substantial’ damage?

Let’s value what we have now before it’s too late.