Listed Building Consent for Centenary Hall, Penzance - How to Express Support

Introduction 

This post explains how users of Centenary Hall (Chapel St. Penzance) and members of the public can express support for planning permission (technically -  Listed Building Consent) for improvements to Centenary Hall which is a Grade II listed building.  

Chapel St Creative CIO (the CIO) has recently submitted an application (PA24/07663) and it will be decided based upon national planning policy, comments from statutory consultees and comments from members of the public.  

This post explains how to file an online comment on Cornwall Council's planning portal and what comments are ‘material’ (are counted) in the decision making process.   

Centenary Hall.  

Centenary Hall (Chapel St, Penzance) was purchased from the Methodist Church by Chapel St Creative CIO on 29 Feb 2024 with funds raised by the community and grants from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, Penzance Council and Architectural Heritage Fund.  A total of £375,377 has been raised and spent buying the building and undertaking priority repairs and electrical system upgrades.  

Centenary Hall (Main Hall)

Reason for the Application.  

The CIO intends to seek grant fundings for more extensive improvements to the building but these require 'listed building consent' from Cornwall Council. Potential grant funders need to be reassured that the necessary permissions exist where projects involve work on heritage buildings.

The Application.  

The CIO’s application for Listed Building Consent was accepted by Cornwall Council on 18 Oct and is likely to be decided later in November.  You can view the application and supporting documents by visiting Cornwall Council’s online planning register here  https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/online-planning-register/ .   Search for the application using reference PA24/07663.

How to Comment.  

To file a comment you first have to register with Cornwall Council (see link in planning portal when you try and make a comment).

Having already registered you can file a comment.  Your personal details will automatically fill many of the boxes of the online form.

Click on  ‘Comments’ tab

Click on ‘Make a Comment ‘

Complete authentication (enter code sent to your mobile phone)

Select 'Commentor Type'  (select ‘Member of the Public’)

Stance:  select “Support”

Reason: select ‘Residential Amenity’ (the form requires a box to be ticked)

Add you comments in the text box (best prepared in Word and cut and pasted into box).

 Material Planning Considerations.  

For comments to count they have to relate to ‘material planning concerns .  For this application the following are ‘material’ considerations:

• Creation/improvement of community facilities.
• Provision of accessibility improvements (accessible WCs and wheel chair platform lift).
• Energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint by installing renewable energy installations.
• Economic sustainability of businesses/community charities etc
• Protection of heritage assets, especially listed buildings (preventing changes or removing later additions).
• Impact on the Penzance Conservation Area.

Decision Making.  

Cornwall Council, as the Planning Authority, has to weigh the benefits of the proposed works against any harm to the heritage building and the Penzance Conservation Area.  Public support for the planned works (the improvements) means they weigh heavier in the scales in the assessment process and reduce the risk of a refusal. 

Changes Proposed in the Application.

 This application seeks approval for changes to achieve the follow:

• Expanded use of the Main Hall on the first floor by making it suitable for performances and events by providing pull-down concertina seating for 100 people. 
• Installation of accessible WCs (1st floor and ground floor) removing a significant limitation on usage.
• Improved 1st floor accessibility by providing a wheel chair platform lift.
• Reduced energy costs and CO2 footprint through a major pv panel and battery installation.  

Example comments: 

I support this application for the following reasons:  (quote your preferred reasons below – the list of reasons below are examples, use your words and experience of the building).   

Centenary Hall would make an excellent venue for community events and there is a  shortage of such locations in Penzance that are affordable and properly equipped.

Our group uses the Hall and would benefit from being able to mount fund raising events in the Hall.

The toilets are rather basic and there is currently no accessible toilet.  This is not acceptable in a community venue.

The lack of accessible toilets and a platform lift to the first floor (Main Hall) prevents my group using the Hall on a regular basis because we have to exclude those who are wheelchair bound.

Centenary Hall can be very chilly in the winter and solar electricity can help reduce the cost of heating while helping the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.

A solar pv installation will help keep running costs down whilst helping the environment by reducing the building's carbon footprint.

Reducing this buildings negative impact on the environment by installing pv panels is commendable.

The solar installation will help support this important community venue and be good for the environment.  The rooftop solar panels will be largely screened from view by surrounding buildings.

It is good to see listed buildings being provided with solar panels.  We need to avoid placing panels on agricultural land. 

This application removes some poorly constructed and unsightly 20th century stud walls which detract from this heritage building.