‘Grotesque’ plan is approved

EXTENSION TO NORTH HILL BUILDING SPLITS PLANNERS

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

AN extension of a former North Hill office block described as “grotesque” and “overbearing” has been given the go ahead after it split Plymouth planners.

Members of the city council's planning committee approved the transformation of the three storey building at 49-51 North Hill into a four-storey mixed use development which includes ten bedrooms on the upper floors and office space on the ground floor.

The council's urban design team called the flat roof extension which raises the height of the modern building above the line of Victorian terrace property it adjoins as “bulky and overbearing”

They said they had tried to get the applicants to compromise on the design but they didn’t wish to change it.

Cllr Steve Ricketts (Ind, Drake) called it “grotesque” and Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Ind, Plympton St Mary) “boxlike”.