2 weeks Ago
Two very distinctive Huge Balinese-style ‘stone’ head sculptures which have dominated the front of a popular bar and night club will be removed. But Alan Mok, the owner of Kioki nightclub in High Street in Old Town, will be able to keep other changes he has made to the building without permission. The changes, including an extension of the building at the rear, the enclosure of the rear terrace and construction of a storeroom, a change to the roof and the changes to the front, building a plinth, as well as the installation of the two heads, took place shortly before the club opened in 2022.
But it became apparent that those changes had been made without planning permission, and when Mr Mok applied for permission to keep them, he was refused. Mr Mok appealed to government-appointed Planning Inspectors to overturn those decisions, but both times his appeal was dismissed. Inspector Emma Pickernell said of the head statuses: “They occupy a prominent position on the front elevation.
“Because of their overall size and scale against the relatively modest proportions of the host building the statues appear excessive in scale and overly dominant, thereby detracting from the character and appearance of the building and the area.” Mr Mok’s latest application, which has been successful was to keep other elements of the work, and said of the heads: “These will be removed and are not subject of this application”. The awning over the door will also be removed.
There were parts of the appeals that the inspectors did not object to, and they were the subject of Mr Mok’s latest application. They include replacing the fully glazed windows with multi-panel windows to replicate the original style of windows, retaining the plinth at the front entrance and keeping the single-storey rear extension and enclosure of the outdoor terrace at the back of the building using timber and corrugated plastic structure. The store room would also be kept.
In recommending approval of the application, the council’s planners wrote: “The proposals have been assessed, and taking into account the appeal decision as a material planning consideration, are accepted in terms of their impact on the appearance of the host building and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. Mr Mok’s application said the club’s management would agree a timetable with the council’s planners for the removal of the tiki heads and the awning from the front of the building. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.
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