LMS Scientific Research Labs, Derby - Planning Application to demolish Hartley House

There is a Planning Application to demolish the 1935 LMS Scientific Research Laboratories, 500 London Road, Derby DE24 8BQ known to all as Hartley House.
They wish to build in place of it, an Al-Madinah Education Trust School.
If you would like to try and save this 1935 LMS building, please vent your disaproval of the proposed demolition and historic loss, to Derby City Council, before Monday 4th March 2013 on this link:> Application Comment Form

 

Re: LMS Scientific Research Labs, Derby - Planning Application to demolish Hartley Ho

What are your reasons for keeping the building? Because it has a link to the LMS? Or because you disagree with its future use?

Richard

 

Re: LMS Scientific Research Labs, Derby - Planning Application to demolish Hartley Ho

Not that exciting architecturally is it?

Some news about it here: Historic building which housed railway science labs ready to welcome tenants | This is Derbyshire

 

Re: LMS Scientific Research Labs, Derby - Planning Application to demolish Hartley Ho

Because of its historic place in LMS and UK railway history; and as a classic piece of Moderne architecture (1935 Hartley House) - very few examples survive in Derby in any case, and not on this scale either. Architect: W. H. J. Connal, FRIBA.

 

Re: LMS Scientific Research Labs, Derby - Planning Application to demolish Hartley Ho

Yes, if Architecture is your thing! Take a step back and take a look at the way the design expresses "form follows function". Of its time, for 1935, Hartley House was on par with the day's Moderne style. Planar brickwork, continuous glazing, flat roofs, flexible room partitions, overhead services. The proposals in the current Planning Application would obliterate the fascade we see today. This building is only Locally Listed, not Grade Listed. It merits protection as a piece of UK architectural history.

Thanks all, for your comments today.

 

Thanks to all for comments on this topic.

Derby City Council online comments/objections form has now closed on 04/03/2013. Consultation Period now expired.
There has been at least 10 comments received in objection.

When I took a closer look at the proposal vs existing building drawings online, the proposal documents are for the demolition of the whole of Hartley House, the linear 1935 "International Style" building with the LMS entrance canopy, plus the post-war, grey brick, single storey extension with white fascia board; and the test hall.

Only Faraday House (the earlier two storey, 12-bay, pitched roof LMS Drawing Offices) would be retained, albeit with its small-paned windows replaced by large, asymetric units with louved top vents.

Initially, the proposed plans are difficult to assess, until you cut+paste, in the same scale, the existing against the proposed elevations. Then you can see the proposed new build is shorter in length. So, not a remodelling, as I may have previously thought.

Proposals remain just that, until their outcome at the next Planning Control meeting, probably mid April 2013. The committee have the consultation report by Derby City Council's Built Environment Conservation Officer to heed; and such proposal also needs to satisfy City of Derby Local Plan Review; and the Government's National Planning Policy Framework.