Issue - meetings

Development of three storey residential block comprising eight two bedroom flats, and one three bedroom flat with associated parking.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to condition(s) and s106 agreement.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, in respect of a planning application for development of a three storey residential block at 115-118 Park Road, N8. The report set out details of the site and surroundings, planning history, description and images of the proposal, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis of the application, human rights and equalities considerations, and recommended that consent be granted, subject to conditions and to a section 106 agreement. The Planning Officer gave a presentation outlining key aspects of the report, and responded to questions from the Committee.

The following points were raised as a result of questions from the Committee and the responses provided by the officers:

• The main change from the previous application was that the footprint of the proposed building was pulled further away from the road and number 121 in order to avoid the existing sewer.
• 6 parking spaces were proposed on-site for the 9 flats; the remaining three flats would be designated car-free, and residents of those flats would not be permitted to apply for parking permits. The parking spaces would be allocated to specific flats when the flats were sold.
• The Committee asked whether permitting parking spaces for this development was consistent with the Council’s transport policies; it was confirmed that the site was designated as medium in terms of PTAL (public transport accessibility level) and that some parking provision was therefore considered acceptable at this site.
• It was confirmed that the balconies were currently applied for as clear glazed, but that this could be addressed by means of condition.
• The level of parking was reported as the same as at the existing consented scheme, but this proposal was moved further away from number 121 and should therefore have less of an impact on neighbouring properties.
• It was confirmed that the parking provision was additional to the amenity space outlined in the report.
• It was suggested that a report on parking policy should be considered by the Regulatory Committee.

Cllr Lyn Weber, ward councillor, and a local resident addressed the Committee in objection to the application, and raised the following points:

·        Pre-application discussions with the architect had led to a number of changes to the scheme, including the removal of the proposed roof garden and rear balconies and the reorientation of the entrance. These changes were welcomed and it was felt that more developers should engage in pre-application discussions.

·        It was suggested that the colour of the window frames should be white, and not bare metal, to be more in keeping with the area.

·        It was felt that the proposal would result in a very narrow pavement, which would be out of keeping with the area and would impact on accessibility.

·        The three-storey height, with an additional block on top for the elevator, would be overly imposing. Although there were similar developments in the vicinity, these were set further back from the road.

The applicant addressed the Committee in support of the application, and raised the following points:

• The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 217