Issue - meetings

Erection of a part 5, part 7, part 10 and part 12 storey building at Block NW2 of the Hale Village master plan, to comprise student accommodation (557 bed spaces) and associated facilities including reception, office, plant room, store room, refuse store, cycle store, common room, laundry room, courtyard and associated works.

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

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, which set out the application, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and relevant factors for consideration. The Planning Officer presented the report, highlighting key issues, and advised the Committee of amendments which had been made to the application description, drawing numbers, cluster numbers, proportion of rooms facing north and the size of the central courtyard as set out in the tabled addendum report. The Committee was advised that, since the circulation of the report, the proposed South block had now been removed in response to the GLA comments on the application.

The Committee examined the plans and were advised on the recommendations in respect of the section 106 agreement, as set out in the addendum report, and how this related to the wider section 106 for the Hale Village development as a whole, which the Committee would be considering later on the agenda. 

The Committee asked questions of the officers. In response to a question regarding the difference between the existing s106 agreement and what was proposed, it was reported that the overall amount for the site remained the same (index-linked), but that, as proposed in the report later on the agenda, each plot owner would have a proportion of the overall liability, including for the NW2 block. The proposals set out later in the agenda were reported as increasing the probability of the Council receiving a large part of the appropriate contributions under the Section 106 agreement. Cllr Demirci expressed concern at the number of applications and variations that had been submitted in relation to this development subsequent to initial planning permission being granted in 2006, and hoped strongly that this trend would not continue.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding the impact of the application on public transport provision, it was reported that TfL and the Council’s transportation department had assessed that the proposal would have a very limited impact on public transport. The Committee also asked about cycling provision, and the possibility of increasing the number of parking spaces for disabled students in response to demand, in response to which officers responded that there were 261 cycle spaces for block NW2, approximately one for every two units, which was within the guidelines recommended by TfL. It was confirmed that the number of parking spaces for disabled students could be reviewed, in response to demand.  In response to a question regarding the provision of units for disabled students, the Committee was advised that there was a small number of units available for immediate use, and a further number which could be adapted in response to specific needs as required.

The Committee asked whether the development of a further student block would have any impact on the demand for open market housing in the development, in response to which it was reported that occupier interest in open market housing on the site was beginning to increase; developers had taken on Pavilions 1 and 2 with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137