Plans filed for new block on Devil’s Tower Road

The full planning application for Clemence Suites at 34 Devils Tower Road has been filed with the Development and Planning Commission.

The 15-storey scheme was given outline planning permission in December 2015 and has since undergone some revisions.

Architect Jonas Stahl from Arc Designs Ltd compiled a summary of the changes that was also filed with the application.

The number of apartments has been reduced by one to 76, the height has been decreased by 1.4m to 38.6m “to take into account the height difference between the Airport Datum level and the site,” and the overall gross built area has been reduced by approximately 450 metres squared.

The spacing on the building corners on the apartment levels will now have a 7.5 metre distance between the nearest balcony and Shackleton House.

In addition, “façade areas facing Shackleton House have been maintained as opaque, to minimise any impact in terms of noise, privacy and ventilation with respect to this existing building.”

Separate entrance and exit points for vehicles have been created, providing “more generous turning circles into and out of the building as well as improved sight lines of on-coming traffic.”

The four existing on-street parking spaces will be replaced with a vehicular lay-by area for deliveries and service vehicles.

The landscaped area on the Devils Tower Road side of the building has been increased, as has the size of the retail, gym and residential lobby area, which has increased by 10 linear meters.

Landscaped areas now represent approximately 15% of the overall site area.

The number of car parking spaces has not changed and remains at 77, including two disabled car parking bays and two bays with provision for electrical charging points.

Motorcycle parking areas will be available on each parking level and bicycle racks have provided for on the parking podium and externally.

Each apartment will have an “external service ‘cabinet’ with louvered doors” to house individual air conditioning condensers and to act as a sheltered and hidden clothes drying area.

Following a wind study conducted by Arup Engineers new elements have been incorporated into the design.

Some of these include, retractable canopies added to the terraces on level 4 to mitigate against down-drafts during high wind conditions, a mesh screen has been added to the open areas of the car parking podium and trees have been proposed to the landscaped area between the development and the adjacent proposed hotel building.

An aeronautical study compiled by Eddowes Aviation Safety Ltd concluded that “no adverse effects are expected to the airport runway”.

The company also suggested precautions during the construction period that Mr Stahl said will be adhered to.

Mr Stahl also said that a desk-based assessment on the archaeological and historical aspects of the site has been commissioned, Ramboll engineers have provided preliminary input on the building’s services and a predictive energy assessment has been conducted with the project expected to achieve an ‘A’ rating for both energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Discussions have been held with the Technical Services Department with respect to the sewers connection of the proposed development.