Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing building and erection of new 3 storey building comprising 7 x two bed and 1 x one bed flats. (Revised drawings)

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions and subject to s106 Legal Agreement.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, which set out the application, the consultation, the site and its environment, planning history and all relevant planning factors and policies.

The Planning Officer gave an outline of the report, highlighting the key points, and responded to questions from the Committee. In response to a question from the Committee, it was confirmed that the requirement for the provision of affordable housing was triggered by applications of 10 units or more.

The Committee questioned the assessment that the site had a low level of public transport accessibility, and asked why private parking was permitted at this site and not other proposed developments. The Transportation Officer advised that this site was not appropriate for a car-free development as it was not in a CPZ, and that the Transportation team had no objection to the proposals, as the site could accommodate off-street parking without the need for any on-street provision. It was confirmed that the method for calculating the level of accessibility by public transport was based on the number and frequency of nearby routes, and that a site such as this was very different in terms of accessibility than a site close to a transport hub such as Tottenham Hale.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding the automated gate and whether cars waiting to access the site would disrupt traffic while waiting for the gate to open, it was confirmed that there was sufficient space for a car to wait off-street for the gate to open without disrupting traffic.

Mr Tillotson, a local resident, addressed the Committee in objection to the application. Mr Tillotson advised that the proposed building was much larger than the previous building on the site, and would be a dominating structure which would overlook neighbouring gardens and the private close. The Committee were invited to consider some photographs to demonstrate the difference in size between the proposed block and the previous building, and the impact this would have on the local amenity. Vehicular access to the premises could cause problems.

In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Tillotson confirmed that the previous building on the site had been two-storey and that the main concern for local residents was the excessive bulk of the proposed block. It was felt that an application that was more in sympathy with the surrounding area would be preferable.

The applicant’s agent, Mr Laverick, addressed the Committee. It was reported that the scheme had been adapted in consultation with the Council’s Head of Development Control to address the various issues raised by Council officers and local residents. Although the proposed block was three storeys in height, it was in fact lower than the neighbouring two storey houses, and was designed in sympathy with the nearby nurses home. In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Laverick advised that there was sufficient evidence that the mixture of flats in the development would be acceptable in this area. The Committee inspected the plans.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113