COUNCIL ORDER WORK TO STOP ON TEDDINGTON SHOPFRONT EYESORE
The Teddington Society has announced that Richmond Council has intervened in the controversy over the shopfront at 97 High Street, which has sparked significant objections.
It is understood that the Council’s case officer will be assessing the entire case in detail as well as reviewing comments submitted.
The Society says: “A recent development at the old Organically shop has ripped out the original frontage and replaced with a totally glass window and door. As the shop is both in a Conservation Area and is a Building of Townscape Merit, no changes should have been made without planning permission.
“The Society has responded to the planning permission application saying that the shop front should be reinstated as it was. In particular we have said that the fully glass door is inappropriate ( this was kept in the new proposal).”
The coffee shop, previously known as Organically, is set to be a new skin care shop called Serpil Aesthetics, which also has outlets in Chessington and Kingston. It is positioned between the Sun Bed shop and Marks & Spencer.
Teddington Society’s Planning Group Leader, Rosemary McGlashon told Teddington Town: “97 High Street is in a conservation area and is a building of townscape merit.
“The current owner removed the shopfront without planning permission and the Richmond Council told them to apply for planning permission (ie enforced the rules).
“No work of this scale should be done on the front exterior without planning permission. When planning permission was applied for, it received several objections including one from the Teddington Society.
“Our objection was both for the proposed shopfront and the sign lighting. Recently the application has been updated and we have directly responded to the Council on that update.
“We feel that either the original shopfront design should be re-instated or one of a similar quality and design in keeping with the building’s heritage status should be installed.”
The Society said: “Many members have remarked on the destruction of the shop front of 97 High Street (previously ‘Organically’) which is both in a conservation area and is a Building of Townscape Merit.
“The Teddington Society is pleased that Richmond Council enforcement stepped in and stopped further work until planning permission is granted.
“TSPG and many others have commented on the planning application (now closed for comment). 97 High Street is a distinctive Victorian building from about 1840 with some additions in 1890 (see Paddy Ching’s booklet A Walk Along Teddington High Street for more details). It deserves a frontage that respects its heritage.”
Currently, the shop front appears to be a temporary and unsightly arrangement with plywood surrounding a large glass window and a glass door.
One of twelve objections listed on the council website says: “We have a lovely High Street in Teddington, the alterations to what has already been built without planning will not change the appearance of a shopfront that is totally different to the rest of the High Street
“The builders are still working on the original shopfront, they have been cementing around the original front and left a terrible mess on the pavement When the shops next door were knocked down for the Marks and Spencer’s building they were made to keep the outline of the original shops and so keep the character of our High Street. This planning application is totally out of keeping with our High Street.”
Another says: “I’m making another comment, to highlight the bizarre attempt at rectifying the difference between what was installed and what had been applied for.
“The work that was carried out last week, when plywood was glued to the plate glass frontage, to give the bodged illusion that a sympathetic and appropriate frontage has been installed is ridiculous.
“It absolutely looks worse than it did as just a plate glass window, and further highlights the importance of the frontage being returned to a proper timber and glass frontage, as it was previously.
“I also feel compelled to add that large sheets of plywood being glued to a plate glass frontage will not only quickly look scruffy, but also will quickly become a danger, as they’re highly likely to fall off. I urge the planning officer to visit the site, view the work, and reject the application. The owner should return it to how it was.”
Another complain states: “I object to the current shop front replacement at 97 High Street and am of the opinion that it is out of character with the conservation status of the High Street. If this shop front was permitted to stay, this would set a precedent for future such plans and change the character of this ancient High Street for ever. Thank you.”
The formal objection of the Teddington Society says: “This objection is submitted on behalf of the Teddington Society Planning Group.
“Teddington High Street has been designated as a conservation area and its fine original shopfronts greatly contribute to its special character.
“Most recent alterations have respected the context of the host buildings, using traditional-style painted fascias and lighting and modest projecting signs that are in scale with the buildings.
“The original shopfront of Organically respected the integrity of the Victorian host building in its design and made a very attractive contribution to the street scene. 97 High Street is a Building of Townscape Merit: a fine and distinctive Victorian building.
“It has heritage sash windows on the first floor and a traditional black wooden front door with two vertical glass panes above a panelled lower section. The host building is not illustrated in the drawings. which makes it more difficult to assess the impact of this application.
“Although the proposed reinstatement of the original stall-riser and window proportions is welcome, we consider that the modern plate glass door is not in keeping with the existing heritage door and windows in this BTM and detracts from the building.
“The style of the original door with its glass pane and wooden panels should be reinstated here. Taken together with the internally illuminated fascia lettering, which is in addition to the proposed overhead LED lighting and signage, we consider that this application would detract from the host BTM and neither be an improvement to the original shopfront nor enhance this historic building and the High Street conservation area.”
You can learn more about the background the planning application and read the objections here:
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