Michel Harper Backs Out Of Casino Site Planning Appeal and Intends Fresh Approach

Published on: 9 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 9 Sep, 2019

The proposed Casino redevelopment

By Martin Giles

Guildford entrepreneur Michel Harper has withdrawn his appeal for his project to rebuild the Bridge Street Casino site and begun a fresh approach.

The proposal was to create a multi-use building, delivering more than 9,000 square metres of student accommodation, sufficient for at least 289 students, with retail units on the ground floor and space for leisure and restaurant use on the two top floors.

Mr Harper said: “It became apparent that the proposal and case I had put forward was lacking in some technical aspects and as these were being highlighted it became obvious that I should withdraw and re-engage with the local authority.

“I will talk to the planning officers and especially the councillors because I really want to try to understand what they want, what they will allow, and see if we can find a compromise which will be viable by scale of mass and a design that represents the landmark nature of the site and try to get something actually built.

“I have already written and asked to see all of the ward councillors and the leaders of the parties. I’ve also contacted the council officer Paul Sherman for a pre-application discussion to try to find common ground in a positive and collaborative way.”

Cllr Jan Harwood

Cllr Jan Harwood (Lib Dem, Merrow) lead for Planning, Planning Policy and Housing Delivery through Planning said: “It is disappointing that such a poorly thought-out scheme was pushed to appeal and this has resulted in a great deal of wasted time and expense on behalf of the council. Accordingly, the council will be making an application for an award of costs against the appellant.

“The council remains committed to helping deliver appropriate development in the town centre and would encourage all site promoters to discuss their schemes with the council, including making use of our Design Review Panel, prior to submitting planning applications.”

During the three-day appeal at Millmead, questioning by the GBC QC James Periera revealed that Mr Harper’s design team had failed to perform key homework.

The proposed Casino redevelopment as it would appear from Onslow Street

Mr Sherman, a planning officer, said, among other errors the Casino application had lacked pre-application consideration, a tall building views study or review by the Design Panel.

A witness for the appellant, who designed The Casino development said he was not an architect and had little experience of major schemes. He expected his work to be completed by a proper architectural team and would probably need changes.

The proposed development in relation to its surroundings.

Alistair Smith, chair of The Guildford Society, issued a statement: “The society is relieved that the owner of the Casino site has seen the wisdom of withdrawing the appeal, which the society has maintained was a development out of scale and design with the surrounding area.

“The society finds it strange that the appeal proceeded to a public hearing when there seemed to be several procedural stages that had not been completed, eg review by the Design Panel.

“The appellant stated at the hearing that if the appeal was lost, they will redevelop the site using the plans for the 2004 consented scheme.  As the council now owns a large portion of Bedford Wharf, including the cinema, surely there is scope for a discussion to incorporate the appellant’s site into a properly planned new town quarter open to the riverside and providing a well-thought-out route between the station and town centre?”

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