Welcome to the Jesmond Action Group



Jesmond Action Group (JAG) was formed to co-ordinate objections to a planning application that has been made to Newcastle City Council by Shepherd Offshore Limited.  The application relates to the buildings and surrounding land comprising the former La Sagesse School.  The application is to build 60 houses and apartments on the western part of the site, and to convert Jesmond Towers into 10 apartments.  The chapel, and the convent would be demolished, and the green space surrounding them would all but disappear.  The entire site falls within the Jesmond Dene Conservation Area. Jesmond Towers is a Grade II star listed building, and the land immediately surrounding The Towers is also protected by that Grade II star listing. Part of the Shepherd Offshore proposals involves a number of buildings which actually fall within the listed building cutilage.

Rex Winter

Chairman

Jesmond Action Group

Updated 19th March 2012

COUNCIL PUBLISH MAJOR CONCERNS WITH SHEPHERD APPLICATION

The Council have today published their written response to the planning application.  They have major concerns about nearly all aspects of the application.  The full document can be downloaded below.  We understand that Shepherd Offshore could still ask for the application to be considered by the Planning Committee but this does seem highly unlikely given the emphatic nature of the Councils preliminary response. It would seem that the residents have won round one!  The conclusion of the Council Document states:

23.0 Conclusion

It is clear from the above assessment that the site is a very important heritage asset within the local environment. It is considered that the assessment of significance and subsequent proposals for demolition are not sufficiently justified in accordance with the policy contained within PPS5. The proposed new build within the site is considered to have a detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the Jesmond Dene Conservation Area. It is not considered that the current proposal would either preserve or enhance the conservation area

The above assessment and advice is provided based on the information submitted at present and the consultation responses received to date. As set out above, additional information is needed in order for the LPA to fully assess the current proposals. It is hoped that the advice contained in this assessment assists in the development of these proposals. The views expressed in this assessment are a preliminary officer assessment of the current application and are given without prejudice to any further views expressed by officers or any decision taken by the Planning Committee on any application submitted.

LATEST NEWS

Updated 30th January 2012 at 17.45

Many thanks to all of you who have already filed your objection.  Please make sure that your friends and neighbours know about the Planning Applicaion too.  If they want to object, please encourage them to do so asap.  Why not send your friends and neighbours a link to this website by email or text, and encourage them to have a look.  Please do it TODAY

Facebook

We are now on Facebook.  If you, or your family members are on Facebook, please 'like' us, and encourage your Facebook friends to have a look at our website, and like us too.  If they do wish to object, get them to send their objection TODAY

Updated 26th January 2012 at 15.45

Public Meeting Outcome

The public meeting was a great success with a fantastic turnout from local residents and interested parties.  Many thanks to all of you who voiced your opinion.  We obtained some good press coverage in The Journal and the Chronicle.

One of the key messages that we took away was that we need to be careful to address the fundamental basis upon which the planning application is made.  That is that the preservation of Jesmond Towers is only affordable if the western part of the site is developed too.  It follows, on the Shepherd Offshore argument, that that preservation justifies the harm caused to the Conservation Area.

Disclosure of Documents

It emerged at the meeting, that a Development Viability Appraisal formed part of the application.  Having briefly appeared on the council website, it was removed at the request of the applicant.  We have written to the council requesting disclosure of that document.  Our request has been acknowleged, and has been passed on to the council's legal department for consideration. We await ther respose.  Clearly, if Shepherd Offshore's main argument is a financial argument, it would be wholly inequitable if that information was not available for scrutiny in the public domain. The council have confirmed to us that there are no other documents that form part of the application, that have been kept out of the public domain. 

Updated 22nd January 2012 at 19.45

Additional paragraph for precedent letter: Fiona Clarke from Newbrough Crescent has kindly drafted an additional paragraph that can be downloaded below.  It concerns the loss of the playing fields and tennis courts.

Planning Policy Documents from May/June 2008: We are grateful to a number of sources for providing the documents that can be found below.  These notes were drafted by Newcastle City Council Planning Department in May/June 2008 when the school closed.  One of the notes was distributed at the public meeting at that time. Note particularly paragraph 6.3 of the La Sagesse document.  We trust that nothing has changed!

How to object to the planning application