THE?chairman of Alton Town Council’s planning and transportation committee has sought to “put the record straight” over a proposal by Hook-based agent Bell Cornwell Chartered Town Planners, on behalf of Andrew Scott, to demolish 9 to 11 High Street in favour of a ‘modern’ building with A1/A2 use at ground level and seven residential apartments above.

An article in last week’s Alton Herald (November 10) wrongly referred to the design of the proposed building as an ‘ugly retro box’ when, in fact, and following extensive consultation with the town council, the design has been radically changed.

While Alton Town Council had no objection to this revised application, James Voller is concerned that the article suggested a lack of concern from the council by confusing the original ‘retro box’ design, to which they did object, with the new design.

According to Mr Voller, the town council held a consultation meeting in February with Herriard-based Graphene Architects, following the first application which featured the ‘retro box’ for 9-11 High Street, “in order to encourage a more suitable street elevation that would fit with the conservation area”.

Mr Voller said: “Graphene Architects listened to our concerns and took on most of our comments in their re-design, so much so that the contemporary box appearance was completely dropped and a traditional period elevation submitted with classical timber shop fronts, brickwork walls, fine glazing bar sash windows and a corniced parapet with slate roof over.”

He continued: “The architects should really be commended for their willingness to co-operate with the council, for their flexibility in being prepared to drop their own modernist design and re-submit something at the other end of the architectural spectrum, with a Georgian period facade.”

Amd he added: “The council is keen to encourage applicants on prominent conservation sites like 9-11 High Street to talk through their ideas at an early stage in order that their designs are realistic and fitting for our market town street scene.

“I would hope that it would be generally appreciated that our discussions brought about the agreed withdrawal of what was a very contentious and unpopular proposal on the High Street.

“Unfortunately, in this case, East Hampshire District Council planners have refused the revised application on the grounds that its elevation remains “out of character” (despite the design being based on an existing High Street period building) and I’m sure the architects will be left wondering why they bothered!”