Issue - meetings

[To be introduced  by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration. Report of the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development.]This report will seek approval to appropriate land to progress the THFC stadium and associated development.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report which  set out what will happen to properties which  will be affected by ‘Right to Light’ if the planning application for the development of the  Spurs Stadium is agreed by the Planning Sub-Committee on the 16^th December 2015. The report included the consultation undertaken with affected properties and the reasons why the recommendations were coming forward which were to progress the development and also, in turn, the regeneration of this area.

Councillor Strickland referred to a letter received late in the afternoon of the 15^th December from surveyors representing the owners of a number of high street properties.  This was tabled for Cabinet Members to consider. In the letter they asserted that the Council was premature in its approach to this issue the effect of which, it was claimed, was to intervene in a commercial dispute and to reduce the amount of compensation payable where rights may be interfered with.

Councillor Strickland explained that officers had considered the letter which did not raise any new issues not already considered in the report before Members. Members were asked to appreciate that section 237 was a legal mechanism to protect the often competing interests of the various parties involved.

Councillor Strickland advised that, in the first instance, it preserves the entitlement to compensation which if not agreed is determined by an independent Tribunal. In the second instance it protects a developer’s ability to carry out consented development. Finally it helps secure the Council’s legitimate policy aspirations and growth agenda arising out of the London Plan targets.

In response to a question from Councillor Engert on the availability of affordable housing in the stadium development, it was noted that there were no affordable homes planned. There had been independent advice received from KPMG and viability advice by planning on this issue. This stadium development was not fundamentally a housing scheme.

In response to a second question, the Cabinet Member agreed that a fair and proportionate consideration had been given to human rights, in respect of properties right of light, and actions undertaken to meet this right were considered fair, hence a report coming forward to Cabinet.

It was noted that the cost of the surveyor set out in delegated actions report had been indemnified by Spurs.

The Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development also drew Councillor Engert's attention to paragraph 6.2.8 which referred to the development as a ‘catalyst’ for a set of wider regeneration initiatives which would deliver the mix and balance across North Tottenham area.

Further to considering the report and tabled letter Cabinet:

RESOLVED

To agree the following, subject to the THFC’s revised planning application for the NDP (HGY/2015/3000) securing a positive resolution to grant planning approval on the 16^th December 2015:

1. To acquire the freehold interest in the THFC Site, pursuant to Section 227 of the Act  for planning purposes;

2. To dispose of the THFC Site to Meldene Limited (a THFC company) pursuant to Section  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145