Issue - meetings

Redevelopment of site to provide 3 storey building comprising 2 x three bed and 4 x two bed self-contained flats with 3 no car parking spaces.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions and a S106 Legal Agreement.

Councillor Bevan, having declared a prejudicial interest, left the proceedings at 20.08hrs.

The Committee were informed by officers that the application site was situated at 7 Orchard Place outside the conservation area.  The site was currently a two storey builders office with a single storey extension to the rear, adjacent to a yard for car repairs etc and the railway line to the west and a row of 3 storey residential houses to the east. To the rear of the site there were very tall conifer trees (15m).

The Committee were advised that the proposal was a resubmission for the demolition of the existing builders offices and redevelopment of the site to provide a 3 storey building comprising 2 x 3 bed flats on the ground floor and 4 x two bed self contained flats on the first and first and second floor constructed in roof tiles and facing brickwork, with 3 parking space.  The amendments involved in the revised scheme involved the alteration of the dwelling mix, 3 car parking spaces and evidence submitted to show that the site has been advertised on the market for employment use over a period of 18 months.

The Committee, in noting the previous period of marketing for employment use, sought clarification as to whether the site could be marketed now for employment use at a price appropriate to the area and therefore possibly attracting a level of interest.

In response officers advised the Committee that the site had been marketed by 3 different Estate agents who had marketed the site over an 18 month period with no interest shown during this period. The market price had been £375K, which a reasonable price for marketing such premises in this area.  The site had had full marketing and each of the Estate Agents had done this in good faith.

Councillor Bevan re-entered the proceedings and addressed the Committee as an objector to the application.

Councillor Bevan commented that he had 4 main points of objection to the application.  He referred to the size of some of the units – with 56 square metres (sqm) and 65 sqm,  being substantial shortfalls to the required minimum floor space area. Councillor Bevan also commented on the loss of employment use, as there was a huge demand for units such as this in Tottenham. Councillor Bevan also referred to the suitability of this site for residential use giving the nuisance that could be caused by the adjacent railway line, as well as the matter of overlooking and daylight issues to adjacent properties.

Councillor Bevan also referred to the marketing of the site and whether the site had has seriously been marketed as a possible employment site and in a proactive manner in the past 18 months.

In response to points of clarification from the Committee Councillor Bevan responded that the opportunity for employment at the site would be dependant on the type of business, and he felt that such a site would be appropriate for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184