Issue - meetings

Variation of conditions for planning permissions and consents covering the refurbishment and conversion of the Town Hall Building, new residential development and associated car parking and landscaping. The variations relate to the elements of the scheme not related to Hornsey Town Hall to be implemented prior to the Town Hall development.

RECOMMENDATION: grant variations HGY/2010/0500, HGY/2010/0501 and grant HGY/2010/0502 and to the s106 Unilateral Undertaking attached to HGY/2010/0500.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to vary conditions attached to planning approvals covering the refurbishment and conversion of Hornsey Town Hall, a new residential development and associated car parking and landscaping. The report set out details of the proposed variations to allow for the elements of the scheme not related to Hornsey Town Hall (‘preparatory implementation works’) to be implemented prior to the Town Hall development and recommended to grant variations to HGY/2010/0500, HGY/2010/0501 and HGY/2010/0502 and to the s106 unilateral undertaking attached to HGY/2010/0500.

The current planning permission, Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent granted in 2010 for the refurbishment of the Town Hall complex and associated new build development were scheduled to expire in December. In order to maintain the land value of the site in lieu of submission of a new planning application for the Town Hall element of the scheme, it was proposed to implement the 2010 permission through starting construction work to the Mews Studio building on site. Variations were therefore required to agreed conditions and s106 unilateral undertaking to permit preparatory works to be carried out without requiring the discharge of every pre-commencement condition and the triggering of s106 obligations. The Planning Officer emphasised the importance of facilitating the implementation of the approved scheme in order to secure the sustainable use and investment in the Grade II* listed Town Hall building which was currently on the English Heritage At Risk register.

In response to questions raised by the Committee, confirmation was provided that a requirement would remain for the refurbishment works to the Town Hall to be completed before the new build elements could be occupied and that no changes were being proposed to the housing mix previously agreed for the development. The Committee queried whether any time limits could be imposed for completion of the remainder of the scheme. It was advised that although a time limit for completion could not be imposed, the situation would be kept under review, with the Council having the power to serve completion notices as necessary.

An objector addressed the Committee and raised a series of concerns regarding the overall scheme for the site, including the leasing of the Town Hall to a private enterprise.

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report and it was

RESOLVED

·        That permission be granted for variations to HGY/2010/0500, HGY/2010/0501 and HGY/2010/0502 and to the s106 unilateral undertaking attached to HGY/2010/0500.