Issue - meetings

To provide an introduction and brief overview of the work of the Haringey Quality Review Panel.

The Committee received a short presentation from Peter Studdert, the independent Chair of the Haringey QRP providing a brief overview of the work and role of the Panel in seeking to help ensure the top-quality design of new developments in the borough.

The Committee raised the following questions following the presentation:

·         Peter’s view was sought as to how high quality design could be promoted for smaller development schemes. He commented that the Council were already in a good position to support this through the quality charter and policy framework in place. He emphasised the importance of providing early policy guidance to applicants and potentially strengthening the policy framework to address the cramming of developments on brownfield sites and schemes, particularly of flats, coming forward with insufficient amenity space.

·         In responses to questions, it was advised that the Panel did not generally propose conditions for applications that came before them, although they were encouraging wider imposition of a condition requiring the design architects for developments to be retained through to completion. Officers confirmed that had been conditioned for larger schemes recently approved including Spurs stadium and Apex House, but that it was not feasible to impose on a blanket basis.

·         The Committee extended praise for the improvements made to the scheme design for the St Ann’s Police station development following input from the QRP.

·         Concerns were raised over the treatment of QRP comments within officer reports coming before the Planning Committee. Officers confirmed that a new approach had now been implemented whereby Committee reports would contain the QRP comments in a tabled format with a corresponding officer response. Further streamlining would also be trialled through full QRP consideration at pre-application stage followed by a Chair’s review when the full application came forward.

·         In response to a question, it was confirmed that no developer invited had refused to participate in the QRP process.

·         The Committee asked for an example of a large scheme which had undergone significant change following input from the QRP. Officers advised that changes had been made to the scheme for 500 White Hart Lane, due to come before Planning Committee for determination in the summer, following on from the Panel supporting the officer position at pre-application stage that the scheme was not acceptable in its current configuration.

·         Clarification was sought on the weighting the Panel gave to Building for Life industry standards. Peter advised that the Panel used the Quality Charter as a structure to the analysis of applications and which predominantly covered Building for Life standards. 

·         It was questioned how the Panel dealt with differences of opinion due to the subjective nature of design. Peter advised that generally disagreements were rare but stressed that there was no requirement to reach a consensus view, with any variance simply noted within the minutes.

The Chair thanked Peter for attending the Committee and for the continued welcome input of the Panel.

To provide an introduction and brief overview of the work of the Haringey Quality Review Panel.

This item was deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.

Action: Clerk