Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Planning Committee agreed to hear the officers report, public representations, and member debate in relation to items 23/1340/LA and 23/1341/LBC, as one, as both items related to the same development.

The Planning Officer outlined planning application 23/1340/LA Preston Park, Preston Hall Museum, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe Extension to museum building and extension/alterations to south car park, new landscaping, substation, and other associated works along with planning application 23/1341/LBC Preston Park, Preston Hall Museum , Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe Listed Building Consent for proposed extension to museum building and other associated works.

Planning application 23/1340/LA sought planning permission for an extension to the existing museum building and the extension of the south car park at Preston Park.

Planning application 23/1341/LBC sought listed building consent for an extension to the existing museum building and other associated works at Preston Hall Museum.

The proposed development would enhance the existing offer and visitor experience at Preston Park Museum by providing new space which allowed the museum to display a more significant proportion of its collection and accommodate touring exhibitions. Whilst in an out-of-centre location, the proposed development represented the expansion of an existing established tourism development. It would not be feasible to provide the additional museum space in any other location as it would not be able to perform the same role and function in terms of enhancing the existing attraction by increasing the amount of its collection which could be on display at any one time. The proposal would enhance the visitor experience for both local residents and tourists from further afield and strengthen the attraction’s local distinctiveness and unique history.

It had been demonstrated that the development would generate a range of significant benefits. These included the ability to accommodate national touring exhibitions, creating unique open collection stores, enhancing the overall visitor experience, creating additional opportunities for adult and school learning, and generating new jobs through both the operational and construction phases. The proposed expansion would also give greater opportunities for visitors to explore and understand the importance of Stockton’s history and aimed to transform the park into a cohesive attraction for visitors to enjoy its rich heritage.

The Local Plan designated the wider site as open space and forming part of a green wedge, setting out a number of criteria against which proposals in such areas should be considered. However, there would be no significant harm to the character and appearance of the area or nature conservation interests and as such the proposed development on the site was acceptable in principle.

The proposals were also considered acceptable in terms of impact on character, highways, ecology and flooding it was concluded that the proposals were in broad accordance with the development plan, when considered as a whole.

Overall, it was considered that the development comprised sustainable development, when considered in the context of the NPPF when taken as a whole. Furthermore, whilst the development would result in harm to the setting of the existing Grade II listed Preston Hall, this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31