CHRISTCHURCH council say they are looking into claims regarding alleged breaches of planning permission at the controversial Cornfactor site.

The council has outlined two lines of enquiry they are investigating, including the overall height of the retirement complex and the height of the on-site cafe’s floor level and decking.

The developers, Renaissance Retirement, refute the allegations and say the development has been built in accordance with the approved submitted drawings.

They are in the process of submitting retrospective permission for the cafe decking.

The site has been at the centre of a scrutiny investigation after protected trees were damaged and subsequently felled earlier this year following a campaign by local residents to save them.

Giles Moir, development management manager at Christchurch Borough Council, said the council was taking a view on whether any action needed to be taken to resolve the alleged breaches.

“The floor level of the café is higher than approved, which has led to the raised decking being installed by the developer.

“We have been in discussions with the developer about this as the decking is not shown on the approved plans.

“We are also investigating whether the overall height of the development is higher than the approved plans.”

Town centre ward councillor Peter Hall said if there had been any breaches, then the matter needed to be brought before the planning committee.

Development built 'in accordance with drawing'

Robert Taylor, managing director of Renaissance Retirement, said the Cornfactor development had been “designed and built exactly in accordance with the approved, submitted planning drawings to the council”.

Referring to the decking, he said the initial planning approval was for block paving up to the tea rooms and a slope.

“Being a local company, from our early designs for the development we have been conscious of the importance of this landmark building for Christchurch,” he added.

“The building itself has also been designed to preserve the view of the stunning 19th century spire of the Christchurch Christian Centre.

“In order to achieve our vision of preserving this heritage view, we are removing two units from the centre of the building and replacing them with a glass link through which the church spire is visible from Druitt Park.

“We might have lost two apartment sales but it is the right thing to do.”

He said feedback on both the apartments and the tea rooms had been “favourable and complimentary”.