New York style plan for Monk Bridge

Plans for another building set to expand the sprawl of Whitehall Road were largely supported by councillors who viewed them for the first time at a pre-application hearing.

BAM Monk Bridge Ltd says it will submit a formal planning application for 463 apartments in two blocks consisting of 17 and 21 storeys set either side of a raised landscaped garden by January with an anticipated start date of June next year.

The building will have 14 apartments on each floor, all for rent via a private rented sector model, from studio to three bedrooms; floor to ceiling glazing; and be made from brick, which proved to be one of the main topics of contention at the City Plans panel meeting.

Coun Liz Nash said: “I am happy with the design and height but not the materials. Brick can look very boring, like a council house block, they look rather tired.”

She asked if a more “21st century” material could be considered but the architect said it was a low maintenance, high quality, robust product.

Architect Nick Brown added: “If we had been designing this eight years ago it could have been (a different material) but as developers, we have grown in love with brick again as a material, and one of the positives is the low maintenance.

“One person’s scheme is not to another person’s liking but we have deliberately gone for it and there is a high proportion of glazing to brick.”

Access to the roof top terrace and gardens, which can accommodate 90 people at a time, will be for residents only and there were calls to make it as “exciting as possible.”

Coun Neil Walshaw added: “It is going to be a remarkable building and will look like a mini New York.”