Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in the area.
Search the Public Notice Portal What is the Public Notice Portal?What is the Public Notice Portal?
The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
Search the Public Notice PortalWETHERSPOONS is asking for permission to install modern glass in the skylights as it refurbishes an iconic grade II-listed pub in Northwich.
The pub chain is seeking a variation to its listed building planning consent granted by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) for refurbishment at the Penny Black on Witton Street.
According to a planning statement prepared by Harrison Ince Architects, external elements of the building have ‘fallen into a state of disrepair’ and are due to be replaced as part of the wider project.
The statement says the intention had been to replace failed elements ‘in a like-for-like manner wherever possible’, but concerns have since been raised over the suitability of the existing Georgian wired glazing.
This is an early form of safety and fire-resistant glass featuring a metal wire mesh embedded inside the pane during manufacturing.
It adds: "It has become apparent it would not be appropriate to replace the existing Georgian wire glazing to the rooflights on a like-for-like basis, with health and safety concerns raised around these elements."
The application relates to listed building consent reference 25/03319/LBC, which was approved earlier this year.
The architects say traditional Georgian wired glass is ‘more prone to break and crack’, with ‘a relatively low level of impact resistance’ compared with modern alternatives.
Because the rooflights are positioned above areas used by customers, the statement argues an alternative material would be ‘far better from a life safety standpoint’.
The document also highlights fire safety requirements linked to an external escape route which passes close to the glazed rooflights.
It says a fire risk assessment requires the glazing to be fire-rated because parts of the route are within 1.8 metres of the glass.
The statement adds: "A product has therefore been selected which is both compliant with regards to fire rating, and has more durability and strength in terms of impact resistance."
The company now proposes replacing the existing glazing with fire-rated Pilkington Pyroclear glass.
To retain the building's historic appearance, a Georgian wired-glass effect film would be applied to the new panes.
The statement says the approach would allow the pub to meet modern safety standards while remaining sympathetic to the listed building.
It states: "The resultant appearance will be sympathetic to the overall aesthetic quality of the original listed fabric, whilst improving building safety for the benefit of the general public and built fabric itself."
The architects says any visual change would be minimal.
In its conclusion, the planning statement says the proposal would preserve ‘the overall visual integrity of the heritage asset whilst prioritising building and life safety’.
Share