Church builds for the future

A major project to build environmentally-friendly offices for the Southwell Diocese has been approved.

Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee also agreed to the demolition of a 1960s extension at the front of the current diocesan offices at Dunham House on Westgate, Southwell, and to restore the 17th Century Grade II listed building to its former glory and convert it into six apartments.

The proceeds from their sale will help pay for the project with the rest coming from diocesan investments.

English Heritage objected to the new office development so the matter must be referred to the Government Office for the East Midlands who could decide that it should be called in for them to determine.

Mr Roger Dobson, speaking on behalf of Southwell Town Council, said they considered the application would be a gain to the town.

He said: “The town council consider that in many ways it is a model application, both in its vision and in its attention to detail.”

He said the development would ensure 70 diocesan jobs remained in Southwell and said there was a real risk that if the project did not go ahead new offices would be found outside the district.

Mr Dobson said the demolition of the extension would be of great benefit to the conservation area and they liked the environmentally-friendly thinking behind the new offices and the design of its grass-planted roof.

Mr Ben Wells was the only councillor opposed to the application.

He likened the design of the roof to three helicopter pads and said he agreed with the comments from English Heritage, which felt that form of development in the grounds of Dunham House would lead to substantial harm to the listed building and conservation area.

Mr Peter Harris said it was an important development and supported it. He said there had been considerable consultation over the project.

“This is a very sensitive building on a very sensitive site and we should support it,” he said.

Mr Roger Blaney said it was an exciting and sensitive application that had been well thought-out.

He said it was up to the district council to exercise its judgment over whether to accept the opinion of English Heritage.

He said although the matter had to be referred to the Government office, very few were actually called in and he hoped that this would be the case in this application.

Concerns were raised by residents of Lowe’s Wong, who were worried about the impact of the new office building on their homes.

Southwell Civic Society did not object to the siting of the office development but were concerned about the height and some of the points of detail.

The head of planning, Mr Colin Walker, recommended that the project be approved.

He considered that the proposals would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.

The new offices will be built into a hillside in the rear garden of Dunham House.

They will have a wooden and glass exterior and have been designed with all the latest environmentally-friendly features.