Salisbury City Council continue to oppose Leaden Hall plans

At Salisbury City Council's most recent planning committee meeting on Monday, July 22, looked at proposals to convert Leaden Hall, at 70 the Close, into offices and meeting rooms, including demolishing part of the building.

Councillor Ian Tomes acknowledged that there have been "three small amendments" since the plans were last discussed and they shouldn't change their objection from the last time.

He said: "We need work done without a doubt - the building is falling to pieces, we still haven't got an EA comment on the issues raised. 

"This is a very very sensitive site, it's right in the middle of the Cathedral Close, anything we do there has to be done with utmost care.

"I do believe that we need to be ultra careful, it not only affects Cathedral close but it affects the city centre."

Councillor Annie Riddle added: "There's supposed to be a masterplan for Cathedral Close, and turning Leaden Hall into offices wasn't part of it."

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Leaden Hall School (image: Newsquest)

As of the oldest educational establishments in the world, the building dates back to 1232.

The planning application, made by Dittrich Hudson Vasetti Architects, on behalf of the Cathedral, stated that the demolition of single-storey extensions and demolition of a conservatory would take place, as well as internal changes with associated works and repairs to the fabric of the building.

A change of use of Stephenson Hall from education to a mixed use would allow the building to be used for meetings, performances and continued educational use, involving the removal of classrooms attached to Stephenson Hall and associated reparatory works.

Plans also want to erect an archive building to hold the Cathedral archive, add solar panels and a ground source heat pump, provide a plant room, add visitor cycle parking and staff cycle storage. 

Leaden Hall School was an independent school for girls with a capacity of 246.

On July 5, 2016, four months after Salisbury Cathedral School merged with Leaden Hall School, the Grade I listed building shut down. It has now not been occupied for the last eight years.

A statement in the planning application reads that parts of the former school are in "poor condition" and a full repair of "the roof, gutters and installation of a reliable and maintained heating system" is needed.

The applicant added that "the underlying character and fabric of the early 19th century building remains. "

The Environment Agency objected to the plans due to the risks to groundwater, the unknown impact to ecology and the lack of an acceptable flood risk assessment.

As part of the objections, in line with previous objections awaiting an EA response, Salisbury City Coucnil asked for alternative solar panel sites to be looked at

A decision must be made by Wiltshire Council by July 5. For the full application, visit: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0i3z00001CGQvHAAX/pl202400373