K&S Mir Ltd seeks planning permission for a new extension of up to 3 storeys adjoining the A-listed The Place Hotel at 34–38 York Place (26/01440/LBC).
The proposed development would replace the building’s current east wing, an unlovely structure and vacant triangular plot beside York Lane and Dublin Street Lane South to the east and north.
The Royal College of Pharmacology occupied this site until the hotel was developed in 2010–12.
The proposal would increase the number of bedrooms from 47 to 58, replacing 12 of the smallest originals with larger ones benefiting from openable windows. The number of wheelchair-accessible bedrooms would be increased from 0 to 23.
Occupying a sloped site, the extension would be subservient to the existing York Place townhouses to the south and match neighbouring mews heights to the north.
The proposed indicative material palette suggests using buff natural sandstone, brown/bronze-coloured metal cladding and bronze-coloured window frames.
Covell Matthews Architects is the practice behind the scheme. Its Design and Access Statement says the proposal ‘delivers a restrained but architecturally interesting contemporary new building into a part of the New Town that has experienced considerable architectural change over recent years’.
The Spurtle is always sceptical about commercial expansions in this area. Here, though, we (the Editor alone on this occasion) sees some merits in the proposal.
It would help a local business to thrive. It would not horribly detract from the (already much compromised) rears of York Place townhouses. Due consideration is made to match the extension’s massing and materials to the local context.
Yes, the design is modern. But modernity is inevitable, unavoidabke and desirable.
Aye but no but …
There again, it’s one thing to consider Planning applications at a distance, and another to live beside them.
A neighbouring resident, Isaac, says, ‘This plan means bulldozing historic single-storey buildings, and replacing them with a soulless, overbearing three-storey extension that’s completely out of scale with its surroundings.
‘It sets a dangerous precedent for overdevelopment in the New Town.’
The Cockburn Association also has serious doubts:
‘The proposals raise a number of important considerations:
the loss of historic fabric through demolition
the effect of internal alterations on the building’s character
the quality, scale and design of the proposed extension
the wider, incremental impact of hotel expansion on the historic environment.
'Historic buildings can and should evolve, but only where change is well justified, carefully handled, and of a consistently high standard.'
As Spurtle posted this report, we were aware of 2 objections having been lodged, but activists expect more to follow..
Comments for or against the application should be sent by 15 May.
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk
