Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of part 4 / part single storey building to accommodate 40 extra care units and provision of 8 off-street parking spaces.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject o conditions.

The Planning Officer advised the Committee that Cllr Harris had tabled a letter with the agreement of the Chair.

The Committee was further informed that there was an error on Condition 11, under Reason: the words ‘and Parkland Walk’ should be removed.  The Highgate Society had asked that a further condition be added that a professional photograph of the property be taken before the demolition and be kept by the Society.  As the building was part of the history of Highgate’s development. 

The planning officer advised the Committee that a further condition was also to be added to the planning consent in relation to a Section 278 agreement.  That no development would commence until the developer had entered into a Section 278 agreement that works would be undertaken to improve the section of footways in the interest of highways and pedestrian safety.

Representations had also been received from Building Control who advised that formal building regulations applied.  Three local residents had submitted letters objecting to the proposed building being over large in terms of bulk, mass and layout.  The style of the proposed development was not in keeping with either the style of buildings it was replacing nor the surrounding buildings.  No construction traffic would be allowed to use Grange Road as it was a private road.

The application site was occupied by two converted and extended villas known respectively as The Tree and Homfray House, and was a vacant nursing home.  There was no prevailing architectural style in the area, being a mix of Victorian and Edwardian developments.  The application site was located within Highgate Conservation Area, however the building was not listed.

This application followed on from a recent refusal which was for a similar application for the demolition of the existing buildings on site and the erection of a part 4 / part single storey building to accommodate 41 extra care units.

A fundamental component to the development of extra care schemes was that they must be near to local amenities and services.  The Borough currently only had 60 such units and the provision of extra care housing had been identified as a priority in the Borough’s ‘Supporting People Strategy 2005-2010’.  The project had the full support of the Council’s Adult, Culture and Community Services.  The self contained units were designed to be fully wheel chair accessible and compliant with Lifetime Home Standards.  

The replacement building would be of a contemporary architectural design and its footprint would be similar to that of the existing buildings on site, with an additional single storey being built along the western boundary.  The main building fronting onto Broadlands Road would take the form of 3 villas.  The height of the North East corner of the building had been reduced by 3m, therefore minimising the impact on neighbouring Broadlands flats.  The overall composition of the proposed development would consist of brick, and white render with some timber cladding.  The reduction in height and proximity of the proposed building would not adversely affect  ...  view the full minutes text for item 226