Shopping centre demolition at Park Mall and associated car parks, Park Street, Ashford

“The application seeks listed building consent for the demolition of the adjoining section of the building within the site at 1 Park Mall which may be attached to the Grade II Listed building at 96-98 High Street. A separate application for planning permission for the demolition of the buildings within the site (application ref PA/2025/1749) is reported on this Agenda.”

“This application for listed building consent deals solely with the issue of the impact of the proposed development on the fabric of the listed building at 96- 98 High Street, as indicated in Figure 2 above. It has been made on the precautionary basis that a building proposed for demolition (1 Park Mall) may adjoin the rear of the listed building at 96-98 High Street, notwithstanding uncertainty that this may not prove to be the case and a small gap actually exists.”

“Site and Surroundings 2. The application site covers an area of approximately 1.7ha in size and comprises the Park Mall Shopping Centre, as well as the Park Mall and the Edinburgh Road multi-storey car parks. The site is bordered by Edinburgh Road to the north, with the A292 (Somerset Road) and residential properties beyond. To the south, the site is bordered by retail uses and the High Street. To the east is a mix of residential and commercial uses along North Street.”

“None of the buildings within the site are listed. There is, however, a row of Grade II Listed buildings extending from 96 to 104 High Street to the south of the site. The rear elevation of 96-98 High Street abuts the application site boundary in a location where buildings within the site are proposed to be demolished, as per planning application PA/2025/1749 which is also reported as the preceding item on this Agenda.”

“Formation of a temporary surface-level car park with 200 spaces including temporary associated ancillary works for a period of up to 5 years. Application pending decision and is reported as the preceding item on this Agenda.”

“AS/84/0114 – Outline planning application for ‘proposed new shopping development, ancillary car parking and new road layout’ in the north-west sector of Ashford Town Centre. Granted 03/10/1984.”

“In this instance, the side and rear wall of a building within the application site (1 Park Mall) may share a party wall with and be ‘fixed to’ the Grade II Listed building at 96-98 High Street.”

“The buildings within the application site forming part of the Park Mall shopping centre are of mid-1980s origin and are not considered to have special architectural merit. If, ultimately, it proves to be the case that the side and rear wall of 1 Park Mall within the site is attached to the listed building at 96-98 High Street, my view is that the non-historic 1980s fabric of that wall would not positively contribute to the significance of the listed building and that the…”

“I consider the buildings within the application site at the Park Mall shopping centre that are proposed to be demolished to be of limited significance. I consider the demolition of these buildings would preserve the special interest and significance of the Listed Building at 96-98 High Street, subject to the conditions outlined above. I therefore recommend that listed building consent be granted, subject to conditions.”

“A. GRANT CONSENT, subject to planning conditions and notes, including those dealing with the subject matters identified below (but not limited to that list) and those necessary to take forward stakeholder representations, with wordings and triggers revised as appropriate, with any ‘pre- commencement’ based planning conditions to have been the subject of the agreement process provisions effective 01/10/2018 and with delegated…”

“Standard time condition. 2. Demolition of the structures that are adjacent to 96-98 High Street to be carried out by hand or by hand-held tools only. 3. Measures to be taken if hidden historic fabric revealed.”