Post by Poundbury on Mar 8, 2009 1:28:25 GMT 1
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/4176073.Poundbury_centrepiece_going_back_to_the_planners/
Poundbury centrepiece going back to the planners
10:00am Thursday 5th March 2009
By Dee Adthingy »
POUNDBURY’S acclaimed centrepiece is going back to the planners as the demand for flats drops.
Queen Mother Square – designed by top architect Quinlan Terry as the heart of Prince Charles’ model development on the edge of Dorchester – is on hold while plans are revamped.
Simon Conibear, Poundbury development manager for the Duchy of Cornwall, said the changes followed a drop in the housing market.
The Duchy now planned to replace 44 flats with office accommodation.
He said the change followed a downturn in demand for flats, although 28 affordable home flats would still be included as planned. They might be relocated within the site.
Barratt Homes, which was awarded the prestigious project last year, might not be carrying out the construction after all.
Mr Conibear said the company was more closely associated with residential development rather than the commercial side that was now intended for the square.
West Dorset District Council gave consent for the scheme more than a year ago. But work had not started early this year as planned and the switch from residential to commercial use for the units above shops in the square means a further delay while fresh planning consent is sought.
Mr Conibear said: “There was a bit of a market freeze before Christmas but that has eased up a bit now. The residential market is not so good at the moment so we are switching to commercial. The envelope of those buildings is not likely to change but it means having offices above the retail units and will need some tweaking so we will need to get planning permission for the change.
“That’s probably going to take 13 weeks. It will mean not being able to make a start early this year and it’s likely to be the autumn before we start.
“We’re still talking to Barratt about it but it may be that another developer does it.”
He said other aspects that will distinguish the square – including using parts of Weymouth’s historic Jubilee Hall to create an small indoor pannier market – would be retained.
The site has been hailed as the heart of Poundbury. The project is still on course as the centrepiece of the whole project, Mr Conibear said.
He added that prices of homes at Poundbury had slipped by around 15 per cent with the market downturn but optimism was returning and people saw property there as a good investment.
Poundbury centrepiece going back to the planners
10:00am Thursday 5th March 2009
By Dee Adthingy »
POUNDBURY’S acclaimed centrepiece is going back to the planners as the demand for flats drops.
Queen Mother Square – designed by top architect Quinlan Terry as the heart of Prince Charles’ model development on the edge of Dorchester – is on hold while plans are revamped.
Simon Conibear, Poundbury development manager for the Duchy of Cornwall, said the changes followed a drop in the housing market.
The Duchy now planned to replace 44 flats with office accommodation.
He said the change followed a downturn in demand for flats, although 28 affordable home flats would still be included as planned. They might be relocated within the site.
Barratt Homes, which was awarded the prestigious project last year, might not be carrying out the construction after all.
Mr Conibear said the company was more closely associated with residential development rather than the commercial side that was now intended for the square.
West Dorset District Council gave consent for the scheme more than a year ago. But work had not started early this year as planned and the switch from residential to commercial use for the units above shops in the square means a further delay while fresh planning consent is sought.
Mr Conibear said: “There was a bit of a market freeze before Christmas but that has eased up a bit now. The residential market is not so good at the moment so we are switching to commercial. The envelope of those buildings is not likely to change but it means having offices above the retail units and will need some tweaking so we will need to get planning permission for the change.
“That’s probably going to take 13 weeks. It will mean not being able to make a start early this year and it’s likely to be the autumn before we start.
“We’re still talking to Barratt about it but it may be that another developer does it.”
He said other aspects that will distinguish the square – including using parts of Weymouth’s historic Jubilee Hall to create an small indoor pannier market – would be retained.
The site has been hailed as the heart of Poundbury. The project is still on course as the centrepiece of the whole project, Mr Conibear said.
He added that prices of homes at Poundbury had slipped by around 15 per cent with the market downturn but optimism was returning and people saw property there as a good investment.
