Greencross Chemists Ltd has submitted a planning application to make alterations to the empty Aligarh resturant premisis in Crosspool shopping precinct.
Diagrams as part of application 17/05164/FUL appear to show a pharmacy-style green cross sign on the outside of the Sandygate Road building. A roof would be erected over the rear yard in order to use the ground floor as a cafe, with a yoga/pilates/wellbeing studio planned for the first floor. The plans also indicate the extension of the frontage to form a ‘street corner feature’.
Last year a planning application was submitted to add a two-storey side extension and alter the roof design to create three flats and extended retail space on the ground floor for a chemist.
The changes to the plans include:
the main ridges are changed to pointed apex form
the west gable is changed to matching coursed stonework where not completely obscured by the adjoining building garage construction
the front dormers have been reduced to align more closely with first floor windows below using thinner wall construction
the waste bin compound is now shown with stone pier and timber gate enclosure
refuge marking is provided to the side entrance to the show and additionally marking to the relocated first floor stair approach
You have until Wednesday 17 February 2016 to comment on application 15/04122/FUL on the council website.
We’ve been finding out a bit more information about Thursday’s explosion and fire in the flat above the chemist in the Crosspool shopping precinct.
The exact cause of how the fire started just after 9:05am is not known. The tenant suspects that it was probably sparked by an electrical fault.
Nicky, Pharmacist at the Crosspool (Greencross) Chemist said, “We realised there was a problem when we heard two loud bangs from the apartment above. the tenant and myself battled the fire with extinguishers in an attempt to quell the flames, but soon realised that the fire was too fierce.”
Passer-by Patrick Scott, caretaker at Lydgate School, encouraged Nicky and the tenant to leave the premises and call the fire brigade. Thankfully no-one sustained serious injuries.
The first indication for shoppers in the precinct that there was something wrong, was when black smoke was seen billowing from the rear of the apartment at around 9:15am, and the swift arrival of two fire engines.
Fire fighters soon had the fire under control, and the building was declared safe, with the chemist shop reopening later that morning.
Other than smoke damage to the flat and the chemist below sustaining minor water damage, the majority of damage, largely as a result of the tenant’s presence of mind to close interior doors, was confined to the apartment’s lounge and its contents.
Flat above chemist with open windowsChemist and fire engine in precinctFire fightersFire engine in precinctFire engine on Selbourne Road
This morning an explosion triggered a fire in the flat above the chemist in Crosspool shops on Sandygate Road.
The fire brigade were called and successfully extinguished the fire. No-one was hurt in the incident, but the chemist was closed this morning while damage to the building was being assessed.
More information to follow.
Fire engine - Fire in Crosspool precinct - January 2011Fire engine - Fire in Crosspool precinct - January 2011Firemen - Fire in Crosspool precinct - January 2011Chemist - Fire in Crosspool precinct - January 2011Selbourne Road - Fire in Crosspool precinct - January 2011