Issue - meetings

Erection of a part two, part three storey end of terrace building to provide 3 x two bed, 1 x three bed and 1 x one bed flat.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions and/or subject to sec. 106 Legal Agreement

The officer presented his report and informed the Committee that the application site was in a conservation area and a piece of open land, formerly occupied by two houses at the end of a terrace on the corner of Archway Road and Southwood Avenue.  The site was in part of the extensive Highgate Conservation Area that was largely residential in character, with terraces of houses on streets to the west of Archway Road.

It was the aspiration of local residents to retain the land as a small area of informal open land (park).  This issue had been comprehensively covered in a previous appeal resulting in a situation where the Local Planning Authority (LPA) had no policy position to view this site other than a vacant residential site.  Previous appeal decisions had established the principal of residential use on the site.  The officer advised the Committee that they would not be in a position to refuse the application on the loss or the potential use of the site as open space. 

In 2007 an appeal decision by the Inspector stated that “the proposal would not cause any unacceptable harm to highway safety or neighbouring occupiers’ living conditions”.  On the basis of this comment the LPA had no objection in principal to flatted development on the site.  The proposed building was for two terrace properties of the same dimension of the adjoining terrace and the original properties on site, the scheme respected the consistency of form and detailing of the adjoining and neighbouring terraces.  The building form, detailing and materials associated with the proposal would be sensitive to the distinctiveness and character of the surrounding area and overall the proposal would preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.  The proposed buildings had been designed in such a way so as not to have an adverse impact on neighbouring properties.  It was considered that the additional on-street car parking in association with the proposal could be accommodated within the parking bay along the southern boundary of the site fronting onto Southwood Avenue.

Cllr Hare addressed the Committee to object to the application.   He advised that he had been involved with the application site since 2001.  Planning permission had been granted in 2004 for one house on the site, however the owner of the site had recently appealed for two houses, which created a lack of benefit to Archway Road and a lack of space.  The proposed application was now for the development of two houses with no open space.  The Inspector in 2004 had recognised the open space to benefit Archway Road.  

The Inspector at a recent appeal had further recognised the wider aims of the Council to contribute to the Archway corridor and approved the value of the open space.  The proposal should therefore be rejected and the owner should continue with the 2004 approval already received.

The Committee enquired of Cllr Hare how much open space was around the application site.  In response the Committee was informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 246