31 Jan 2024
One of the city centre’s biggest eyesores could soon be redeveloped as flats.
Plans have been submitted for the boarded-up shell which is all that remains of the former Bucko’s sandwich shop and bakery at 52 Victoria Street.
The proposals call for part demolition, part retention and the erection of buildings for the creation of 12 flats opposite prestigious new development Jubilee Square.
But Havana nightclub, which is next door to the site at no 50, has objected to the proposals on the grounds that it not going to be possible to provide adequate noise and vibration insulation between the two properties, and no amount of noise insulation will mitigate the sound of people leaving the premises at 2am, nor will they prevent the escape of noise when people enter and exit the premises.
Christine Wood from the club said: “All this demonstrates is that the application site is entirely inappropriate for residential development situated as it is, immediately next door to a late-night licensed premises.”
Graham Parry, managing director of environmental consultants Accon UK, said: “It is my professional opinion that the present application should be refused as it fails on several
aspects.
“It fails to identify in any detail the mitigation which would be implemented to reduce the likelihood of noise from the Havana Club resulting in nuisance. It does not take into account the fact that in the future the Havana Club could operate more frequently than it presently does within the terms of its planning permission and premises licence; and importantly, an appropriate noise condition has not been identified by the applicant or for that matter the Environmental Health department.”
But Robert Lines from Lattimore Road supports the scheme: “When I saw this site was being developed, I feared another characterful building would be lost from the centre of St Albans. It appears to me from the plans that the original fascia of the building (as viewed from Victoria Street) will be maintained, after removing the unattractive later addition used when the property was a bakery.
“I believe it is essential that the fascia is preserved in order to retain and therefore continue to contribute to the character of this site. My only other concern is that there appears to be no parking for residents, visitors or tradespeople. Might it be possible to incorporate some parking at the rear of the property (from Old Kent Road) into the design?”
You can comment on the proposals via the council’s planning portal using the reference 5/2023/1777.
