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Stratford Picturehouse land could become residential if plans given go ahead




IT’S been called a ‘bomb site’ and it looks set to stay that way for the time being despite a proposal for 29 flats on land once occupied by Stratford Picturehouse.

An application by Jewellery Construction Stratford Ltd of Coventry to build the flats was made in January last year with a determination date set for November, but that proposal is still on the table with more discussions to follow.

Former Picturehouse site, Stratford
Former Picturehouse site, Stratford

This December marks five years since the Picturehouse closed. The building was demolished and plans for a hotel were submitted but fell through, mainly due to Covid in 2020.

This latest plan is for 29 residential units which Jewellery Construction Stratford believe will enhance the vitality of the town while providing much-needed affordable housing for locals.

The site has been sold – subject to planning consent – by Igor Kolo-dotschko. This week he told the Herald: “Hospitality was badly hit by the Covid pandemic in March 2020. A Travelodge hotel was proposed but Travelodge went into Company Voluntary Administration. It has since recovered but the hotel proposal never went ahead.

“The Picturehouse was demolished mid-summer 2020 but no building took place afterwards.

“We wanted to do something, but Covid struck again so it was just left as an empty site.”

In its planning statement to the district council, Jewellery Construction Stratford outlined the benefits its proposal would bring to the town. These include its commitment to climate change and sustainable construction in locations ‘which minimise the need for travel and encourage non-car travel and the use of energy systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The statement added the proposal would create a sense of place and wellbeing, would contribute to Stratford’s employment growth and economy and help support the town’s need for more housing.

But there have been objections made to the council which range from parking to pollution and conservation.

Dr Dinah Hanlon said the height and mass of the building was an inappropriate development for the site. “I have nothing against new purpose-built residential apartment blocks especially when they are affordable, however, the massive and imposing four-storey high, rectangular building proposed is visually uninteresting with little architectural merit. I urge Stratford District Council to reject the proposal as currently submitted”.

The objection from the White Swan Hotel centres around the loss of light on the Grade II listed building. And there were objections about the impact on traffic in an already congested one-way road.

Dr Liz Willetts said the proposal was: “An eyesore that looked like a bomb site full of litter and totally neglected. Replacing it with a building that will increase the canyon effect with regard to vehicle emissions and looks like Belmarsh Prison is cold comfort.”

The Stratford Society also objected to the application, stating it was inappropriate on such a small site, looming over listed 19th century cottages and contrary to policies in the Stratford Core Strategy with no provision for parking residents’ vehicles which would add to on and off-road congestion in a conservation area.

Nevertheless, Jewellery Construction Stratford remains optimistic progress is being made.

John Haynes, a director, said: “We have worked closely with the town council and the planning department over the past 12 to 18 months and are very close to agreeing on a scheme for the site, with the aim of progressing proposals at one of the forthcoming committee meeting dates.”



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