Agenda and draft minutes

Please note this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method.  Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting.  Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual, or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.

The Planning Committee abides by the Council’s Planning Protocol 2017.  A factsheet covering some of the key points within the protocol as well as some of the context for Haringey’s planning process is provided alongside the agenda pack available to the public at each meeting as well as on the Haringey Planning Committee webpage.

The planning system manages the use and development of land and buildings.  The overall aim of the system is to ensure a balance between enabling development to take place and conserving and protecting the environment and local amenities.  Planning can also help tackle climate change and overall seeks to create better public places for people to live, work and play.  It is important that the public understand that the committee makes planning decisions in this context.  These decisions are rarely simple and often involve balancing competing priorities.  Councillors and officers have a duty to ensure that the public are consulted, involved and where possible, understand the decisions being made.

Neither the number of objectors or supporters nor the extent of their opposition or support are of themselves material planning considerations.

The Planning Committee is held as a meeting in public and not a public meeting.  The right to speak from the floor is agreed beforehand in consultation with officers and the Chair.  Any interruptions from the public may mean that the Chamber needs to be cleared.

The Chair referred to the planning protocol and this information was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Reg Rice (Vice-Chair) and Councillor Yvonne Say. Councillor Cathy Brennan was present as substitute.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with at item 12 below.

There were no items of urgent business.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct

Councillor John Bevan declared an interest in relation to Item 9, HGY/2022/0664 – 175 Willoughby Lane, London N17 0RX, as he had commented on the scheme during the consultation period. He noted that these were observations and had not been made in his role as a ward councillor. It was clarified that he would be considering the item with an open mind and would take part in the discussion and voting on the item.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 10 October 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Planning Sub-Committee held on 10 October 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

In accordance with the Sub Committee’s protocol for hearing representations; when the recommendation is to grant planning permission, two objectors may be given up to 6 minutes (divided between them) to make representations. Where the recommendation is to refuse planning permission, the applicant and supporters will be allowed to address the Committee. For items considered previously by the Committee and deferred, where the recommendation is to grant permission, one objector may be given up to 3 minutes to make representations.

The Chair referred to the note on planning applications and this information was noted.

Proposal: Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment to provide a new care home (Class C2 - Residential Institution), together with a well-being and physiotherapy centre. The proposed care home includes up to 70 bedrooms, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, gym, treatment/medical rooms, hairdressing and beauty salon, restaurant, café, lounge, bar, well-being shop general shop, car and cycle parking, refuse/recycling storage, mechanical and electrical plant, landscaping and associated works.

Recommendation: GRANT

The Committee considered an application for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment to provide a new care home (Class C2 - Residential Institution), together with a well-being and physiotherapy centre. The proposed care home includes up to 70 bedrooms, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, gym, treatment/medical rooms, hairdressing and beauty salon, restaurant, café, lounge, bar, wellbeing shop general shop, car and cycle parking, refuse/recycling storage, mechanical and electrical plant, landscaping and associated works.

Valerie Okeiyi, Planning Officer, introduced the report and responded to questions from the Committee:

·         The Planning Officer highlighted that a late representation had been received from 1A View Road which had been summarised in the addendum. For information, the text of the representation was displayed for those present to read in full.

·         In response to a query, it was corrected that the Committee had considered an application for this site and approved planning permission in October 2022, rather than October 2021.

AurellTaussig spoke in objection to the application. He stated that he lived next to the site and had spoken in objection to the application previously. He believed that the developer should be required to adjust the design of the scheme to reduce the loss of light for his garden and windows. It was stated that the proposal would be taller, bulkier, and wider than the existing building. In relation to sunlight, Aurell Taussig commented that he would experience a loss of more than 50%; he believed that this was not permitted as it would be in excess of the maximum permitted loss of 20% as set out in the Building Research Establishment (BRE) guidelines.

It was highlighted that the report commented that, as the neighbouring garden was overshadowed by the existing building and by trees, that there was no entitlement to additional protection. Aurell Taussig stated that the assessment did not make sense, was contrary to the Council’s policy on daylight and sunlight, and wrongly focused on the existing situation rather than the impact of the new development. He noted that his dining room would experience a high reduction in winter light, which would be in breach of the BRE guidelines, and he felt that his comments had been ignored. He believed that the development would lead to a sense of enclosure in his garden and would result in a loss of amenity and privacy; it was stated that planning permission had been refused on these grounds in previous cases on Yeatman Road and Southwood Lawn Road and it was felt that decisions should be consistent. It was requested that planning policy was applied and that the design for the proposal was changed to lessen the impact on surrounding properties.

Members of the applicant team addressed the Committee. Mitesh Dhanak, Applicant (Highgate Care Ltd), stated that he had worked in the care sector for 25 years, had operated a number of successful and award winning care homes, and had been operating in Haringey since 2008 at Priscilla Wakefield House. It was stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Proposal: Demolition of existing buildings on the site and redevelopment of the land to the west of Willoughby Lane / Dysons Road for the erection of modern employment premises to provide flexible employment space across use classes E (light industrial), B2 and B8 (with ancillary offices), car parking, service yard areas, landscaping and associated works.

Recommendation: GRANT

The Committee considered an application for the demolition of existing buildings on the site and redevelopment of the land to the west of Willoughby Lane / Dysons Road for the erection of modern employment premises to provide flexible employment space across use classes E (light industrial), B2 and B8 (with ancillary offices), car parking, service yard areas, landscaping and associated works.

Sarah Madondo, Planning Officer, introduced the report and responded to questions from the Committee:

·         In relation to a query about the reduction of light to neighbouring gardens, the Principal Urban Design Officer explained that the Building Research Establishment (BRE) guidelines stated that a garden should get two hours of sun on at least 50% of the garden area on a typical day across the year; this was known as the ‘sun on ground’ test. It was noted that the assessment had found that the majority of neighbouring gardens would have plentiful sun both before and after the development. In addition, there was one property on Malham Terrace which was currently non-compliant with the ‘sun on ground’ standard and this would also be non-compliant as a result of the development; this was not considered to be a serious loss. There was also one property on Middleham Road which would fall from 50% to 48% as a result of the development. It was explained that the numbers provided by the consultants had focused on the amount of loss rather than the total amount of sun on ground. In summary, it was noted that the majority of properties would still meet the sun on ground test, one property would marginally fail (where it was not failing currently), and one property would significantly fail (where it was also significantly failing currently).

·         It was enquired whether there was an opportunity to improve the public alleyway adjacent to the site as part of the section 278 highways agreement. The Transport Officer noted that the alleyway was not in the scope of the application as the site would be accessed from Dyson’s Road. It was commented that the section 278 highways agreement would facilitate works in relation to access and parking. It was added that there would also be a section 106 contribution towards pedestrian crossings and cycling improvements.

·         Some members noted that the fence on site was proposed to be 2.5 metres high but enquired whether railings could be used, rather than a solid fence, and whether it could be lower. The Planning Officer explained that the materials for the fence would be conditioned. It was noted that this question would be further addressed by the applicant.

·         Some members acknowledged that there were road safety and speeding issues on Willoughby Lane and that the applicant would be making a pedestrian crossing contribution; it was asked whether there was a timetable for the improvements. The Transport Officer explained that it was difficult to provide an exact timetable but it was noted that there would be design works, a safety audit, and consultations and that it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To advise of major proposals in the pipeline including those awaiting the issue of the decision notice following a committee resolution and subsequent signature of the section 106 agreement; applications submitted and awaiting determination; and proposals being discussed at the pre-application stage.

There were no queries on the report. The Chair noted that any queries could be directed to the Head of Development Management.

RESOLVED

To note the report.

To advise the Planning Committee of decisions on planning applications taken under delegated powers for the period 2 January 2023 – 20 January 2023.

There were no queries on the report. The Chair noted that any queries could be directed to the Head of Development Management.

RESOLVED

To note the report.

There were no items of urgent business.

To note the date of the next meeting as 6 March 2023.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting was 6 March 2023.