Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beacham, Christophides, McNamara and Schmitz. Cllrs Hare, Ejiofor, Reith and Jenks substituted.

Cllr Peacock declared a personal interest in respect to item 7 as a ward Councillor for Northumberland Park.

Demolition of existing five bedroom two storey detached house and erection of two storey, five bedroom detached house (Amended plans).

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to grant planning permission for 63 Lanchester Road, N6 4SX. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions. Vincent Maher, the Council’s Head of Development Management, gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee on the suitability and impact of the modern contemporary design of the new house on the streetscene, the Planning Officer confirmed that officers considered that the footprint, bulk, mass and design of the replacement building would be in-keeping with the streetscene and make a positive contribution. It was reaffirmed that the site was not located in a conservation area. It was additionally proposed that a condition be added to any permission granted requiring prior approval of the materials to be used on the development by the Council.

Cllr Erskine, ward Councillor for Fortis Green, addressed the Committee in objection to the application and put forward the view that the new modern building proposed would be out of character for the street and constitute an overbearing presence, particularly with the larger footprint proposed for the top floor. The sustainability of the development was also questioned in terms of the fundamental premise of demolishing an already existing, fully functional house to replace it with another.

Two local residents, Mr Lindsey and Mr Wellin, addressed the Committee in objection to the application and raised the following issues in their presentations and responses to questions from the Committee:

·        That the new house would adversely impact on the character of the street, with an architectural scale out of kilter with other houses in the vicinity.

·        Concerns the new house would disrupt some of the current view of Highgate Woods located to the rear of the property.

·        The accuracy of the boundary lines identified by the applicant with one of the neighbouring houses, 65 Lanchester Road, were questioned.

·        The noise, disruption and lack of amenity associated with the construction works for the demolition and erection of the new house were a matter of concern, particularly as it was considered that few details had been provided by the applicant in this regard.

·        The energy efficiency of the new house was also questioned, particularly with the inclusion of a heated swimming pool, a greater expanse of glazed surface, the efficiency of the photo-voltaic panels and overall, the time it would take in energy terms to compensate for the loss of the embedded energy value in the current building. 

·        Concerns were also expressed that the scale of objections from local people had not been accurately represented in the officer report.

The applicant’s representative, Mr Sheppard, addressed the Committee in support of the application and responded to questions:

·        The application constituted the redevelopment of a family home which would be owner occupied.

·        The design and materials to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 265.

Comprehensive redevelopment of the Brook House (former Cannon Rubber Factory site), including the erection of a 22 storey building (plus a part top floor mezzanine) providing 100 residential units (use class C3) and 190 sqm of commercial floorspace (use class B1, D1 and D2), two buildings of 6 and 9 storeys respectively providing 101 residential units (use class C3) and a part 2/part 5 storey building comprising a 2,388 sqm 2 form entry primary school (use class D1) and 21 residential units (use class C3), together with associated car and cycle parking, refuse stores, highways, infrastructure, open space and landscaping works.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions, completion of a s106 legal agreement and subject to Mayoral Direction.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to grant planning permission for the former Cannon rubber factory, 881 High Road, N17 8EY. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions, completion of a s106 agreement and subject to Mayoral Direction. Marc Dorfman, Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Economy, gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The Committee’s attention was also drawn to the circulated addendum report setting out revisions and amendments to the initial report including a revised drawing schedule and units table, replacements to a number of conditions and details of two additional consultation responses.

The following points were raised in discussion of the officer report:

·        With regards to whether the Council had a strategic policy covering tall buildings, it was advised that although they were specifically promoted in Tottenham and Haringey Heartlands areas under UDP 9, this did not preclude their siting in other areas of the borough. The tower met the criteria for tall buildings set out within UDP 9. The Planning Officer also confirmed that the tower would progress through a Design Gateway consisting of a group of experts to further develop detailed designs for consultation and approval by the Committee as required by a planning condition. 

·        Concerns were expressed over the potential over development of the site. Officers advised that based on calculations used by LB Haringey, the density of the development was comparable, and in some instances, slightly lower than that of other comparable development sites in the borough.

·        The tenure mix of the development was queried, in particular the lack of family homes. Confirmation was provided that the proposal put forward by Newlon was focussed on shared ownership and intermediate rent homes.

·        In response to questions about the health and safety of amenity sites to be located above ground floor, it was advised that these were fairly commonly used in new developments and would be well designed to ensure safety of users.

·        Clarification was provided that the development would not create any new public open space but that the school would be a facility available for community use.

·        The poor condition of the Sainsbury’s car park boundary wall was raised. Although this was not part of the development site, it was advised that efforts were in train to secure improvements with the freeholder. 

Three local residents, Messrs Murray, Springthorpe and Harvey, addressed the Committee in objection to the application and raised the following issues in their presentations and responses to questions from the Committee:

·        A number of concerns were raised about the consultation exercise undertaken, including claims that a unanimous vote taken by local residents against the large tower at the Development Forum meeting on 3 December had not clearly been reflected within the subsequent minutes or in the officer report. Concerns were also expressed over the scope and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 266.

Conversion of the existing property into seven self-contained flats

incorporating single storey rear extension (revised drawings).

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

Owing to time constraints, this item was deferred to the next meeting.

Monday 18 February 2013, 7pm.

The next Planning Committee was scheduled for 18 February.