Communal covered parking at Willoughby Almshouses, Cossall

What was proposed

The application sought listed building consent for communal covered parking behind the almshouses, with associated layout and landscaping.

“The application is brought to the Committee at the request of Cllr Pringle. 1. Purpose of the Report 1.1 The application seeks Listed Building consent to construct a communal covered parking area to the rear of the Almshouses, provide associated layout and landscaping. 2. Recommendation The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that listed building consent be granted subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix. 3.”

Officer report

The site and building

The site is in the conservation area and Green Belt, and the almshouses and adjoining walls are a Grade II* listed building.

“The application site is located within the Cossall Conservation Area and Nottinghamshire Green Belt and is located within the centre of Cossall Village. To the front of the site there is a wall to the front boundary with an overgrown garden area beyond. To the rear there is also an overgrown garden area. The Almshouses currently consist of six, one bedroom dwellings and one, three bedroomed dwelling.”

“The red brick with plain tile roof building originally consisted of a row of eight individual dwellings for four poor men and women, two of which have been merged. A central unit was designed with a ridged roof. The three to the left and four to the right were expressed with steep gables, which gives the building a wide and grand frontage, despite it being comprised of humble dwellings.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions and works

Earlier permissions covered residential conversion, access, gardens and parking, while works to build the approved scheme were well under way.

“Planning permission and Listed Building Consent was granted under reference numbers 10/00044/FUL and 10/00045/FUL to rebuild the front wall. Planning permission was granted under reference number 21/00507/FUL to construct residential extensions to a Grade II* Listed Building and refurbishments to create one 2-bedroomed dwelling (House 1), two 3- bedroomed dwellings (House 3 and 4) and one 4-bedroomed dwelling (House 2), new gardens, a new vehicular access and a car…”

“Both planning permission and Listed Building consent were previously granted under reference numbers 23/00510/FUL and 23/00511/LBC to construct residential extensions to a Grade II* Listed Building and refurbishments to create one 2-bedroomed dwelling (House 1), two 3-bedroomed dwellings (House 3 and 4) and one 4-bedroomed dwelling (House 2), new gardens, a new vehicular access and a car park, off-site alterations to junction of track to the east of the site with Church…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the rear carport’s scale, open form and traditional materials limited harm to the listed building and conservation area.

“Planning Committee 15 April 2026 their significance. Policy 11 of the Aligned Core Strategy states that development will be supported where the historic environment and heritage assets and their settings are conserved and/or enhanced in line with their assets and significance. The proposed carport will be open on all four sides and will measure 25.5m in length, 5.5m in width, 2.1m to the eaves and 4.5m in total height to the pitch of the roof.”

“In addition, the rear of the site is relatively well screened from public viewpoints within the Conservation Area. As such, development within this part of the curtilage has a reduced potential to affect the significance of the listed building when compared to works affecting the principal elevation or boundary frontage. The proposed carport is described as a freestanding timber structure constructed in oak with open sides and traditional roof trusses.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Conservation Officer and Parish Council raised no objections, Historic England offered no comments, and no objections were received from the site notice.

“Consultees • Conservation Officer – no objections, advises the proposed amendments and submitted details represent a thoughtful and conservation-led evolution of the previously approved scheme. the proposals reflect discussions held on site with the applicant and demonstrate a clear understanding of the significance of the Grade II* Listed Willoughby Almshouses.”

Officer report

Late supporting comments

Late correspondence from the Parish Council supported the application, while the Conservation Advisor noted no objections and considered it acceptable.

“There were late items comprising emails from Cossall Parish Council – supporting the application - and the Council’s Conservation Advisor – noting no objections and that the proposal is acceptable.”

Minutes

Public speakers

There were no public speakers for this item.

What members discussed

Members discussed the site’s suitability, parking conditions, the benefit of the spaces and support for the existing historic building.

“The Committee gave consideration to the appropriateness of the site for the development, conditions concerning parking, the benefit the parking spaces being created would have on the site and how this would support the already existing historical building.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The Committee approved the proposal subject to conditions covering commencement, approved plans and later approval of materials.

“RESOLVED that planning permission be approved, subject to the following conditions:”

“No building operations shall be carried out until details of the materials to be used have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning…”

Minutes