Speech to Cheshire East Northern Planning Committee 22 January 2014
Submission in favour of the proposals
My name is John Lee – a Chartered Architect for 20+ years, Senior Lecturer at Manchester School of Architecture; and for today’s purposes, Churchwarden at St John’s Knutsford. I speak for the church in favour of the proposals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When I was here last, I noted the Committee’s interest in hearing about St John’s Church – a strong, active and committed community in Knutsford of over 300 people – 180 ordinary families, old and young. And the Committee’s interest in those families commitment to community (and the town) by paying to restore their parish church – £540,000 and counting.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to go to look at St John’s. I described how the wish of those people is to relocate the windows to bring the church building back to life – inside and out. I am sure that having done so you will appreciate for yourselves why it is necessary.
In the short time available, I would like to remind the committee of the matters that should properly be at the heart of making a decision today.
1 The works already have the equivalent of Listed Building Consent   This was covered through the process of Ecclesiastial Exemption and the faculty jurisdiction. Only after 11 months of consultation with every heritage body did the Chancellor of the Diocese (a highly experienced circuit judge) weigh his decision and grant permission.
2 The works now need Planning Consent (according to CEC)   And the correct test of our proposals according to Section 55 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 is whether they materially affect the ‘external’ appearance of the building. (Not the interior). I remind the Committee that the stained glass windows were behind protective grilles, and some will have new protective grilles. No material change.
Despite the TCPA 1990, the Planning Department’s ‘Further Report’ includes comments on heritage, technicalities of window repair, and internal changes which stray away from the substantive issue of whether the proposals materially affect the external appearance. Those comments should (with respect) therefore be disregarded in your decision.
Again: this is a project with huge community support, real community money, and (now) specialist legal and planning advice. The proposals have the equivalent of listed building consent; we the families of St John’s, in so far as it is needed, request planning permission to relocate the windows.
Thank you.