Site: Lincoln University , Campus Way , Lincoln , LN6 7TS Application No: 2015/0126/RM Target Date: Agent: Maber Associates Limited Applicant: Mr Kevin MacDonald Development: Erection of four storey building to accommodate College

of Science, 500 seat Lecture Theatre and catering services as required by Outline planning permission 2012/0473/O (including access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale).

Background Site Location and Description The proposed building, now on referred to as the Isaac Newton Building, would deliver expanded educational and support facilities within the College of Science plus new University shared facilities. The accommodation provided would provide a mixture of laboratories, workshops, teaching areas, seminar rooms, office space and lecture areas. The Isaac Newton building project would be based around the existing Engineering Hub building and would bring together all the schools of the College of Science in one shared building with the addition of a central wing and a 500 seat lecture theatre. The proposed development would be located to the South East corner of the Brayford Campus adjacent to the Ropewalk. To the north of the site is the Art, Architecture and Design buildings and the Delph Pond to the West. Planning History 2012/0473/O - Development of University Campus to include Academic Buildings (D1), Offices (B1), Student Residential Accommodation (C2), Retail (A1), Restaurants and Cafes (A3) and Hotel (C1) with associated parking and landscaping (OUTLINE). 2014/0934/CXN - Submission of details to vary condition 2 (Drawings) of planning permission 2010/0214/F. Case Officer Site Visit Undertaken on various dates, photos taken on 12th May 2015. Issues Visual Impacts Impact on Amenity Highway Impacts

Policies Referred to 1 National Planning Policy Framework 2 Policy 34 - Design and Amenity Standards 3 Policy 89A - Education Development Districts

Consultations Consultations were carried out in accordance with the Statement of Community Involvement, adopted May 2014. Responses Witham First and Third Drainage Board Witham House

School Lane Washingborough Lincoln LN4 1BW Attn. Alan Gardner

Lincoln Civic Trust St Mary`s Guildhall 385 High Street Lincoln LN5 7RY

Lincolnshire Police Police Headquarters PO Box 999 Lincoln LN5 7PH

Highways Authority Lincolnshire County Council Consideration of Issues National and Local Planning Policy Paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework) outlines that “at the heart of the National Planning Policy Framework is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which should be seen as a golden thread running through both plan-making and decision-taking. For decision-taking this means:

approving development proposals that accord with the development plan without delay; and

where the development plan is absent, silent or relevant policies are out of date, granting permission unless: any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably

outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in this Framework taken as a whole; or

specific policies in this Framework indicate development should be restricted.

Chapter 7 – Requiring Good Design 56. The Government attaches great importance to the design of the built environment. Good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, is indivisible from good planning, and should contribute positively to making places better for people. 57. It is important to plan positively for the achievement of high quality and inclusive design for all development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider area development schemes. The proposed development is allocated as an Education Development District within the Adopted Local Plan. Therefore the following policies are relevant: Policy 34: Design and Amenity Standards Planning permission will be granted for new buildings, extensions, alterations or refurbishment of existing buildings which meet the following requirements:

The scale, massing, height, design, external appearance and facing materials to be used in the development must complement the architectural style and townscape character of the locality;

The siting and layout of any new building or extension must ensure a satisfactory physical and functional relationship to adjoining buildings and streetscape;

Boundary treatment and landscaping must ensure the maintenance of a high standard of visual amenity and an appropriate degree of privacy and should, where practicable, contribute to nature conservation;

The amenities which occupiers of neighbouring properties may reasonable expect to enjoy must not be harmed by, or as a result of, the development;

The development should meet the standards for vehicles and cycle parking and servicing as set out in Appendix B (ii), and make satisfactory provision for access by means other than the car.

Policy 89A: Education Development Districts Within the areas shown on the proposals map as Education Development Districts, planning permission will be granted for new development and changes of use which:

provide higher and further education facilities; complement the activities of the higher and further education institution; provide for improvement to the local environment, including through

pedestrian/cyclist access. Circulation and safety; access to or by public transport; landscaping; or other proposal which will assist the integration of the higher education institutions into the rest of the City and with each other;

comply with the provisions of Policy 34.

Policy 89B: Discouraging car travel by Students and the Workforces of Higher and Further Education Institutions

Planning permission will be granted for development involving the extension of higher or further education institutions, provided that where such a proposal would ass fifty or more persons to the institution’s combined student population and workforce, the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that adequate measures will be taken to encourage travel to the institution by modes other than the private car. The Principle of the Development In terms of the principle of the development, the extension is in accordance with the local plan allocation as a University Campus and the most up to date University Masterplan shows the principle of a building in this location. Background Planning permission was granted in 2012 (2012/0473/O) for outline consent for an overarching vision and Masterplan for the Brayford Campus. Any new facility needs to work within the constraints set out within this plan. Critical views towards the cathedral were identified and long views from the south of the site which needed to be maintained. Building plots were allocated within the masterplan to maintain a cone of vision northwards towards the Cathedral. The building line to the west of the proposed site is fixed to maintain this vision and is defined by a pedestrian route. The Masterplan defines the maximum heights of buildings in certain locations. The proposed development site is restricted to a maximum height of 20metres. Defined within the Masterplan are main frontages to plots, which buildings must consider. It is important that buildings have prime elevations fronting the main roads, Brayford Way and the Ropewalk. The proposed development would link with the existing Engineering Hub building located north of the development site. This is a four storey buff brick building which was developed in partnership with Siemens. Permission was granted in 2010 with works completed in 2011. It is home to the School of Engineering and is also a training facility for Siemens employees. The accommodation is a mix of laboratories, workshops, teaching area, computer rooms and offices. There are general University lecture rooms located on the second floor. Proposed Development The proposed development would be located directly south of, and adjacent to, the existing Engineering Hub Building. It principally comprises sites SE06 and SE07 identified on the Masterplan (see extract below). It is bound by the Delph Pond to the West and the Ropewalk to the South. It is in a prominent location facing directly onto Ropewalk approximately 60metres by 100metres with an area of 5,100m2. The majority of the site currently operates as a temporary surface car park with an access road and associated parking within the southern part of the site.

The Isaac Newton building is to comprise of three wings (the existing Engineering Building being one of these) linked by a shared atrium space to create a single building identity. There would be a single entrance via the atrium with the existing Engineering entrance closed off. The main entrance from the north would lead users into a double height foyer space. From this space there would be atriums to the south and north. The southern atrium provides visitors with a large circulation and waiting area directly outside the 500 seat lecture theatre as well as accommodating the catering facility. The northern atrium would contain a feature stair providing access to all floors as well as the north wing of the building. The existing engineering building would be internally altered as part of the proposed scheme and would make up the northern wing of the development. A buffer zone is required between the existing Engineering Hub building and any new proposal, to ensure that windows in the existing Engineering Building are not compromised and allow access to the existing drainage culvert. This has informed the positioning of the proposed central wing. The central wing at ground floor would provide specialist teaching spaces and related support areas for Engineering and Computer Sciences. These are all spaces requiring a ground floor location for external access requirements. Between the north and central wings would be an enclosed courtyard. This would provide a vehicle access area to the ground floor labs and would house a small group of external storage areas.

The south wing would accommodate a 500 seat lecture theatre and catering facilities. It would be accessed from the southern atrium. This atrium would provide a large servery and seating area with preparation kitchens located to the east along with plant and refuse areas. The atrium roofs are none accessible other than for maintenance. The solid roof provides opportunity for the installation of solar PV panels. The external roof space over the central wing provides an area to be used as an external research space which would enable the School of Engineering to test prototype renewable systems in an external environment such as photovoltaic panels, solar panels and wind turbines. Vehicle access to the site would be via Ropewalk to the east. The Ropewalk junction leads to several internal access roads and vehicular access to the west of the campus is provided via a perimeter link road which runs parallel to Brayford Way and provides access to surface level car parking. Pedestrian access within the campus is defined by a network of paths linking the various buildings. The main pedestrian route between Library Square and the Delph Pond is located to the north of the Engineering Hub. There are no dedicated cycle routes through the campus; however cycling is permitted throughout the campus. Materials The development would utilise a simple palette of external materials and finishes which connect the buildings within the campus and creates the opportunity to define a new campus gateway. The external materials would be as follows: Atrium Glazing – the atrium would be wrapped in an aluminium glazing system with large expressed vertical fins. The fins act as solar shading from the westerly afternoon sun and give vertical articulation to the principle façade. A large graphic relating to Isaac Newton is proposed to extend over the glazing of the atrium and across the ground and first floor glazing to the engineering hub. Render – The brick used on the existing engineering hub is no longer available, therefore following lengthy discussions it has been agreed that a render, the same as that used on the Engineering Hub extension, be used for the central wing. Several options have been looked at following the advice that the previously used brick is now unavailable. A different colour brick in a similar size was considered but it was considered by officers that this didn’t create enough of a contrast with the existing brick. Therefore a render option was discussed. The colour has been agreed following a number of site visits and viewing a number of samples to find a colour and texture that we feel would complement the existing building and the surrounding buildings.

It is proposed to use render colour STO31431 in a 1.5mm grain size. The local authority have been reassured that this is a high quality, synthetic thin coat, render system which maintains a high quality finish without the need for ongoing maintenance. Feature metal cladding to the lecture theatre – the proposed panels would be in a metallic bronze finish and would be flush panels with feature horizontal joints to emphasise the curved form of the building. A dark grey render would be used at ground floor level to the lecture theatre to blend in with the shadow created by the theatre cladding. Roof enclosure – Aluminium louvered panels would enclose the plant to the roof to match with the plant screening in place on the existing Engineering Hub. Visual Amenity The proposed development would present highly visible frontages to Ropewalk and Brayford Way, to the east and west respectively. However it is considered that the building sits comfortably with the existing university buildings and the style in this location as a gateway to the university performs a functional relationship with the streetscape in accordance with policy 34. In terms of views from Tritton Road and the south the Architecture Building and the Engineering Hub are already substantial buildings which whilst influencing the view still maintain long views of the cathedral. The proposed development would be a significant change to this view but respects the existing landscape and maintains the view of the cathedral in accordance with the Masterplan. Whilst the proposed lecture theatre would add a new material to the campus the rest of the building ties in with the existing engineering building by using the same render, window and metal cladding on the central wing. A physical connection is to be made between the existing Engineering building and the proposed development to read the buildings as one school of engineering. It is therefore considered that the appearance and materials complement the rest of the buildings on the campus as well as the wider area. Highway Impacts The proposed site for development is currently in use as a temporary car park, this car park would be lost along with approximately 29 permanent surface car parking spaces. 45 new spaces would be provided off the access road as part of the proposed scheme. An electric charging point would also be provided. There are existing cycle stands adjacent to the existing Engineering Hub entrance. These would be retained and additional cycle stands provided adjacent to the new north-south pedestrian route. Covered cycle storage would be provided within the development off the existing access road. Whilst the Highways Authority has not raised an objection to the scheme they have requested that highway improvement works are completed to Brayford Street in

accordance with the 2012 Masterplan. However it is considered that these works were listed to provide a link from Brayford Wharf East to the High Street. This access will now be provided via Wigford Yard through to no.179 High Street. This link will be brought forward in connection with a number of schemes connected to the University and the High Street footbridge works. It is considered that to attach a condition requesting the works to Brayford Street would not meet the planning tests in terms of being related to the development or enforceable. Landscaping The landscaping around the building is proposed to continue the design and materials established within the University campus. The key elements of this application are:

A north-south pedestrian route linking new southern pedestrian entrance to the heart of the campus

Paving to match the exiting boulevard north of the existing Engineering Hub. Permanent seating to the new pedestrian route providing opportunity new for

outdoor dining retention of existing trees where possible and enhanced soft planting round

the site defined pedestrian routes and road crossovers with traffic calming

Lincoln Townscape Assessment The Lincoln University South Character Area is made up of a series of buildings in a post-modern architectural style unified by architectural style, repetition of materials and large building footprints. There are large blocks in the west of the area with limited or unclear permeability and one ‘urban’ block containing the main university buildings. There is a lack of enclosure in some areas resulting from the large roads, car parks and grassed areas. Brayford Way provides a strong link to the rest of the city but also acts as a barrier to pedestrian movement across the area. Otherwise there are good pedestrian routes through the area, linking it with the rest of the university campus. The railway line forms a strong boundary to the north of the area. The current townscape of the Lincoln University South Character Area mainly dates from the Post-Railway Expansion and Modern Periods, although the line of the earlier street Rope Walk does survive. Much of the land in the Character Area is occupied by the large modernist and post-modern buildings that make up the campus of the University of Lincoln, established in 1996. These include the Sports and Recreation Centre which opened in 2000 and the Architecture Media and Communication Centre which opened in 2003. The area also contains a modern office block and a large complex of private student accommodation.

Conclusion It is considered that the proposed development would be in accordance with both national and local planning policy and would be developed within the parameters set within the 2012 University Masterplan. Financial Implications None. Legal Implications None. Application Negotiated Either at Pre-Application or During Process of Application Yes. Equality Implications None. Application Determined Within Target Date Yes. Recommendation Grant Conditionally Conditions Year 3 Plans Materials Highways – works carried out in accordance with plans. Contaminated Land Wind turbine details Construction Management Plan Report by: Planning Manager

Site Photos

Taken from Tritton Road looking North East

Taken from South of Ropewalk roundabout

Taken from car park opposite side of Ropewalk

Looking East to West across the campus

Existing Engineering Hub taken from the south west

Taken from within the university campus

Taken from within the university campus

Taken from within the university campus

Taken from the west end of the campus

Site Location Plan

Site Layout

Aerial View

Elevations

South and East

North and West

Visualisations

Consultee Responses