A well-known Lynn landmark could be disappearing to make way for a development of 28 town centre flats and homes.
A well-known Lynn landmark could be disappearing to make way for a development of 28 town centre flats and homes.
Freebridge Community Housing has submitted an application to West Norfolk Council to demolish the former Zoots nightclub and Pilot cinema in John Kennedy Road and build the affordable homes with car parking on the 32,000 sq ft site.
A design and access statement accompanying the application said the site would be developed through a partnership between Wellington Construction and Freebridge.
The Pilot cinema was built there in 1938. In the 1990s it underwent a £2m transformation to create Zoots nightclub, which opened in 1999 and closed in January 2008.
The statement said the site, between the Pearl River Chinese restaurant and the new housing development in Hextable Road, was in a predominantly residential area. It would be accessed off John Kennedy Road, from a new arm off the existing traffic light-controlled junction.
A breakdown of the homes shows there would be 18 one or two-bedroom flats and 10 houses, ranging from two to four bedrooms, in a mix of two to three-storey buildings.
Although only 18 parking spaces would be provided for cars, the statement said: “It is expected that the development’s location and proximity to the town centre will encourage other means of transport and less reliance on car use.
“Each dwelling will be provided with a cycle store to promote and encourage sustainable living.”
Freebridge would manage these homes, which have been positioned to minimise overlooking to private areas. The parking spaces have been broken up to avoid creating large areas of handstanding.
Norfolk Police have been consulted about the application and have welcomed crime prevention initiatives proposed as part of it, including secure parking, adequate lighting of common areas, control of access and natural surveillance.
A police spokesman said: “The aim of the police service is to assist in the design process to achieve a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors without creating a ‘fortress’ environment.”
The design statement said the site was located close to the St Nicholas conservation area and several listed buildings, but it was not considered that it would cause any harm to those buildings “given the mix of architecture which is found in the immediate vicinity.”
All the homes would be fitted with energy-saving measures to help reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, the report added.
Comments