Royal Gazette: Parks commission rejects Southlands plans
Two proposals for empty buildings in Southlands have failed to win the support of the National Parks Commission.
The first suggested converting Prima Vera Cottage, a vacant residence near the northeastern corner of the Warwick park, into a meeting and events centre to be used by Mirrors or other government bodies.
While a planning application said the proposal was in line with planned improvements to the park and making use of derelict buildings on the property, the NPC voted to recommend the building be demolished altogether rather than converted.
In a letter, dated January 21, the NPC noted that the building was not listed and was close to a densely populated residential neighbourhood. It added that there was a “potential for unwanted behaviour” in the space.
Nine commission members voted in favour of demolishing the building, with two voting in favour of renovating the building for residential use.
The letter, written by a technical officer to the NPC, said: “They would not recommend their approval for the proposed use as laid out in the application, for office space, to the Minister of Public Works and Environment.
“The commission recommended that the money proposed for use in renovating this building be put into the listed main house within Southlands Park.
“The Department of Parks is not in favour of this building being utilised for residential use and supports the recommendation of demolition by the National Parks Commission.”