Issue - meetings

Retention and renovation of the existing Tottenham Lane façade and side façade and erection of two additional floors comprising 6 x residential flats (Class C3) and 47sqm of flexible retail (Class A1) office floor space (Class B1(a)) and a building comprising 3 x 2 storey houses (amended plans) (amended description).

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions and subject to a s106 legal agreement

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the retention and renovation of the existing Tottenham Lane façade and side façade and erection of two additional floors and a building comprising 3x 2 storey houses. 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 and a s106 legal agreement.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. A correction was made to an error contained within the report to the s106 heads of terms where the contribution to the future review of the existing Crouch End Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) would be £8k and not £7k.

An objector addressed the Committee and raised the following points regarding the application:

·         Gratitude was expressed for the Development Management Forum held on the application and the subsequent changes made to the design in light of comments raised by the local community.

·         Significant concerns remained outstanding on the scheme and it was felt that the officer report did not reflect the scale and scope of objections received from local residents.

·         The height of the building was of objection, in particular the out of scale fourth floor extension, a  viewpoint inline with comments made by the planning inspector on the context of building heights in the area under a 2012 appeal decision on the adjacent KwikFit site.

·         A modern addition would be out of keeping with the art deco façade of the existing building.

·         The scheme would have a detrimental impact on adjacent Fairfield Road properties, in particular their gardens, from the cramming of 3 houses to the rear of the site up the boundary.

·         The Committee were urged to reject the application or at the least add a condition requiring the new brickwork to the art deco building to be the same colour and type as the existing façade. 

A representative for the applicant addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         The scheme would bring back into use an urban brownfield site including vacant, low amenity land to the rear.

·         Planning permission had been granted in 2014 for a 6 unit scheme within the existing building envelope and the current application was considered to be an improvement on this scheme.

·         The existing art deco façade would be retained, with one additional setback floor visible from the frontage.

·         The approved scheme at neighbouring 159 Tottenham Lane would raise building heights in the vicinity and obscure to a large extent the proposed extensions.

·         In terms of the impact on Fairfield Road properties, there would be a separation distance of 46m between the rear building line of the main building and the rear windows of the closest Fairfield Road properties. In addition, the mews houses to the rear would be stepped down in nature.

·         The scheme would be designated car free.

·         All the new units would have private amenity space  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33