Erection of extensions, demolition and refurbishment of vacant care home and coach house to create care facility, external and internal alterations and erection of activities cabin within a Conservation Area, 34 Greenhead Road, Huddersfield

Planning Application 2020/91591
Erection of extensions, demolition and refurbishment of vacant care home and coach house to create care facility, external and internal alterations and erection of activities cabin within a Conservation Area, 34 Greenhead Road, Huddersfield

The society generally supports this application which should improve a building and grounds which appear to have deteriorated whilst empty. The new car parking spaces can be accommodated within the grounds with significant shielding by remaining trees and features, such as changes proposed to the single-storey structures and the provision of staff cycle storage – are positive improvements.

The one concern is the replacement of the current external fire staircase from the second floor to ground level. The existing structure looks to be a standard open metallic staircase and is visible as a protrusion to the side of the house from Greenhead Road, Park Road South and from part of the war memorial area of Greenhead Park. It would be more visible from the war memorial area in winter when the park trees are not in leaf.

The proposed structure is described as a ‘new external steel staircase to replace existing stair, enclosed with perforated metal sheets to detail.’ There appears to be little detail in the plans, regarding the materials, colour, reflective state etc. and it is suggested that consideration be given  to a structure more sympathetic to the style of the property  which is within a conservation area and is visible from Greenhead Park.

Incidentally, Longdenholme, as it was originally called, was built for Joseph Woodhead, founder and proprietor of the Examiner, and designed by Ben Stocks (plans submitted July 1879).