The redevelopment of the former Quayside site has hit a slight stumbling block over the location of some condenser units.
The developer has already got permission to rebuild the entire site from the ground up to create a new shopping facility – intended to be a Home Bargains store.
A recent application to vary the previously approved plans has been rejected though, after planning officers decided that the intended location of a number of condensers would cause a noise problem for nearby residents.
“The scheme as submitted fails to demonstrate that the proposed condenser units can
and will operate, at all times, at a level that would not generate unacceptable noise and
nuisance to the occupiers of surrounding dwellings,” said the planning refusal notice.
“The scheme therefore fails to comply with Policy GP8 (a) design and (d) health and well-being of neighbours of the development, of the Island Development Plan.”
The planning application had asked for a variation of the plans around vehicle access and the parking area, included the revised location of nine condensers, the building of an associated enclosure, a 5m fence, the installation of an electrical pillar, and alterations to a planned forklift store.
The planning officers said their main concern around this latest planning application was the impact of the proposed condenser units on the surrounding residents “when considering the matter of noise and nuisance”.
Although it was said that the equipment “has multiple operating modes and that the quiet mode would achieve an acceptable reduction in the noise generated”, the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation said that could not be enforced “and as
such the scheme fails to satisfactorily address and ensure that, at all times, the
amenities of surrounding residential neighbours will not be adversely affected by the
nine condenser units”.
The developer now has the option to appeal this decision or resubmit varied plans.
The developer already has permission to redevelop the site to include a new retail building, along with a change of use to create a café on site, along with associated works to create vehicle access and a parking area.
Work started last year, with the former Quayside building demolished and clearance work carried out, and the new structure now taking shape.