Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing five bedroom two storey detached house and erection of two storey, five bedroom detached house (Amended plans).

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to grant planning permission for 63 Lanchester Road, N6 4SX. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions. Vincent Maher, the Council’s Head of Development Management, gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee on the suitability and impact of the modern contemporary design of the new house on the streetscene, the Planning Officer confirmed that officers considered that the footprint, bulk, mass and design of the replacement building would be in-keeping with the streetscene and make a positive contribution. It was reaffirmed that the site was not located in a conservation area. It was additionally proposed that a condition be added to any permission granted requiring prior approval of the materials to be used on the development by the Council.

Cllr Erskine, ward Councillor for Fortis Green, addressed the Committee in objection to the application and put forward the view that the new modern building proposed would be out of character for the street and constitute an overbearing presence, particularly with the larger footprint proposed for the top floor. The sustainability of the development was also questioned in terms of the fundamental premise of demolishing an already existing, fully functional house to replace it with another.

Two local residents, Mr Lindsey and Mr Wellin, addressed the Committee in objection to the application and raised the following issues in their presentations and responses to questions from the Committee:

·        That the new house would adversely impact on the character of the street, with an architectural scale out of kilter with other houses in the vicinity.

·        Concerns the new house would disrupt some of the current view of Highgate Woods located to the rear of the property.

·        The accuracy of the boundary lines identified by the applicant with one of the neighbouring houses, 65 Lanchester Road, were questioned.

·        The noise, disruption and lack of amenity associated with the construction works for the demolition and erection of the new house were a matter of concern, particularly as it was considered that few details had been provided by the applicant in this regard.

·        The energy efficiency of the new house was also questioned, particularly with the inclusion of a heated swimming pool, a greater expanse of glazed surface, the efficiency of the photo-voltaic panels and overall, the time it would take in energy terms to compensate for the loss of the embedded energy value in the current building. 

·        Concerns were also expressed that the scale of objections from local people had not been accurately represented in the officer report.

The applicant’s representative, Mr Sheppard, addressed the Committee in support of the application and responded to questions:

·        The application constituted the redevelopment of a family home which would be owner occupied.

·        The design and materials to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 265