Latest bid to alter one of Maldon's oldest homes to be voted on following refusal

By Charlotte Lillywhite 9th Dec 2021

The historic house at 4 Silver Street in the Maldon Conservation Area
The historic house at 4 Silver Street in the Maldon Conservation Area

Plans to renovate and alter one of Maldon's oldest homes will be decided by district councillors next week, after being recommended for refusal once again by town councillors.

The town council recommended the revised application to carry out interior and exterior works to the house at 4 Silver Street, a Grade II* listed building, for refusal once again last month despite the developer removing alterations to the cellar about which members had raised concerns.

Neil Bresler, from Eleven Cromwell Ltd, said he resubmitted the application to remove the two galvanised steel doors from the proposal "in the spirit of trying to work with the town council, as well as other objectors".

He said: "The town council included a comment that the proposed refurbishment would impact on the street scene, but both the revised plans they discussed and these new plans show that there are no alterations to the frontage which means that there is no impact to the street scene."

But the town council's planning committee said last month it "continues to recommend refusal of these applications due to the excessive and unnecessary alterations to the structure of the Grade II* listed building and the resulting visual impact".

The application has also received 10 letters of objection from residents, many of whom cite concerns about the extent of the proposed alterations to the building.

One resident said: "These applications raise great alarm and concern from neighbouring properties and anyone owning a listed property in the town that has experienced their own intense scrutiny and restrictions on building work.

"If these applications are approved it will be open season for listed building owners to apply for multiple changes and assume the same support from the conservation department.

"These applications must be refused and a more sympathetic renovation must be called for to protect this and, in turn, ensure protection of other heritage properties in this town."

The Maldon Society has, however, warned the works are needed to ensure the home is "saved from further deterioration and past indifferent alterations".

Writing in support of the application on behalf of the Maldon Society, David Smye said the proposal involves "restoration, repair and sympathetic modifications".

The other letter of support for the plans said: "The applicant is committed to restore the house after years of neglect - his intentions should be encouraged."

The design and access statement for the revised plans added: "The aim of the proposed work to 4 Silver Street is to improve its appearance by removing some of the 20th century additions to the exterior of the building, improve its utility by reorganising internal spaces and improve its thermal performance to reduce carbon footprint.

"The exterior proposals aim to improve the visual contribution the property makes to its surrounding by sympathetically repairing older features of the building and mitigating some of the 20th century impact to the property's setting by removing the conservatory, replacing the modern fenestration with heritage style windows."

Historical research earlier this year discovered the first owner of the home to be a man named Josua - it is thought he lived in the house in the fifteenth century.

The street is one of the most historic parts of the Maldon Conservation Area.

Historic England also said it supports the application on heritage grounds.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "We maintain our view that the proposed restoration and alterations to this Grade II* house have been approached in an exemplary manner.

"The sensitive approach that has been adopted towards the proposed works will undoubtedly enhance this extraordinary building and appropriately safeguard the future of its historic fabric."

Maldon District Council will make the final decision on the revised application next Wednesday (15 December).

     

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