2.2.31

Paragraph 2.2.31 The garages to the north west of the site are judged to be negative buildings within the SPD. The Council however are not maintaining their part of the lease in terms painting the garage doors which tenants are not responsible for under the terms of the lease. In spite of the fact they were built in the 1980's they are all in use and are in relatively good condition. Several owners have invested in new garage doors. They are modern functional buildings one would expect to find in a residential area. Comments that they should be removed in terms of their impact on the Conservation area are unjustified and should be deleted.

While the gatehouse is an original and handsome building, the gatehouse extension is a later addition which connects the Indian Community Centre. It is of a low quality, and it is suggested to mark it as a negative building.
Its removal may help to improve the entrance sequence into the site, since currently it creates a long barrier along the only access route, with little merit.
This is also the place to declare on the merit of the existing coach houses on the site as a unique feature which will make a positive contribution to the site. This will support the intention to keep these buildings, although may not appear in other appraisals.

Paragraph 2.2.31 Please clarify if the 'negative buildings' were identified by the Council (as stated in paragraph 2.2.31) or by the consultant team (as stated in the legend for figure 20 on page 26).