Welcome
This website has been created to share our vision and exciting plans for Hobbs boatyard on the Wargrave Road. They include dramatically improved facilities, public amenity, support for small businesses along with considered, sensitive improvements to the estate as a whole that befit such a prominent site.
In addition to safely storing, maintaining and showing the Collection and archives, we are equally committed to nurturing the boatyard as a vibrant, traditional boating hub on this key reach of the upper Thames. Our plans include new floating moorings and, as access to this part of the river can be difficult during the busiest summer months, we are committed to providing complimentary use of the new facilities in support of recognised clubs and societies that promote the use and conservation of traditional, non-powered craft.
Planning Update
While the circumstances surrounding the refusal of our planning application last December were extremely disappointing, it was truly humbling to receive so many kind calls, letters and emails of support. We owe a debt of gratitude to so many.
Amended proposals have now been submitted that fully respond to all the stated reasons for refusal, reflecting the planning officer’s requirements. A headline summary of the key amendments include:
- The riverside elevation retains the same size and proportions, in keeping with the height and scale of existing buildings on either side, but proposes a reduction in the amount of glazing and a commensurate increase in the amount of timber cladding.
- Workshop extension floor plans and elevations now more clearly illustrate the provision of floodable openings and finished floor levels.
- A revised Flood Risk Assessment confirms that the proposed development (when taken as a whole and including the new moorings and cutting) would tangibly increase the flood storage capacity of the site and therefore reduce flood risk elsewhere.
- A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and proposed Planting Intent report confirms the revised scheme would result in a significant improvement from a habitat and biodiversity perspective. In addition to new hedgerow and tree planting, we have proposed a lowered revetment behind the proposed moorings where new wetland planting would be undertaken.
Although the workshop extension would marginally increase the footprint of development on the site, if approved, the total footprint of buildings would still be reduced relative to the footprint of buildings that existed before the fire in 2004. Moreover, from a volumetric perspective, the cumulative volume of the proposed ground floor and first floor extensions, as previously proposed, would increase the total volume of the building by just 11.7%.
With these issues addressed, we very much hope that the revised plans and accompanying information submitted with the current application will enable the Council’s objections to be removed. Given the significant level of support and local interest there was in the original application (120+ letters of support and no objections) it is also our sincere hope that Councillor’s will be willing to ‘call-in’ the application for Committee consideration by elected Members just in case the planning officer is still minded to object to the scheme and looks again to refuse the application under delegated authority.
Finally, as we are by no means experts on such matters, we were surprised to learn that all the kind letters of support for the first application are not retained or carried forward on the planning portal when resubmitting proposals. Letters of support would therefore be hugely appreciated under the new application number 220987 that may be found at the following
link
With all best wishes
Adam Toop & Penelope Rose
An Introduction to the Collection
