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 Councillors Bartlett and Dunstall.

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 10 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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 16 January 2023 and 6 February 2023 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 16 January 2023 and 6 February 2023 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 dwellings and redevelopment to provide a 66-bed care home (Use Class C2); associated basement; side / front lightwells with associated balustrades; subterranean and forecourt car parking; treatment room; detached substation; side access from Courtenay Avenue; removal 4 no. trees in rear; amended boundary treatment; and associated works.

Recommendation: GRANT

Samuel Uff, Planning Officer, introduced the report for the demolition of existing dwellings and redevelopment to provide a 66-bed care home (Use Class C2); associated basement; side / front lightwells with associated balustrades; subterranean and forecourt car parking; treatment room; detached substation; side access from Courtenay Avenue; removal 4 no. trees in rear; amended boundary treatment; and associated works.

Officers responded to questions from the Committee:

·                     There was no policy requirement for affordable housing provision within the care sector, as this was a different use class to conventional housing.  The Planning Authority was therefore restricted in its’ powers in terms of affordable housing for older people.

·                     The entrances to the site would have railings with hedgerows and planting, but with some permeability.

·                     The cost per bed within this development would be a determining factor in whether the Council would purchase a care package for a resident of the borough within this development, or place the resident out of the borough.

James Leof spoke in objection to the application on behalf of Compton Avenue Residents.  Noted:

·                     The proposal did not comply with local policies – DM10 (unacceptable loss of family housing), DM15 (specialist forms of accommodation should be located near to good forms of transportation), SP12 and DM9 (loss of existing buildings in a Conservation Area), and SP1 (proposal should meet local development needs only).

·                     The proposed development was out of keeping with the residential character of the area, and there was a lack of local services, zero amenities and very poor public transport.

·                     There was limited parking in the local area, and an increase of 47 visitors to the site with only 7 spaces provided would impact hugely on the local area.

Matt Brewer spoke in objection to the application on behalf of the Courtenay Avenue Residents Association.  Noted:

·                     There were significant issues with the proposal, and it did not comply with local planning policies.

·                     The site was located in a sensitive area, and the harmful impact of the demolition would be exacerbated by the overbearing scale of the proposed building.

·                     The scheme was at odds with the heritage context, character and appearance of the Conservation Area.  There were no heritage benefits to outweigh the level of harm.

Shahabedin Jafari spoke in objection to the application.  Noted:

·                     His property would be severely overlooked and overshadowed by the new development.

·                     No evidence had been provided in relation to a proper ground water flow assessment, and as Courtenay Avenue was on a deep slope, this could be a significant problem for the area.

The objectors responded to questions from the Committee:

·                     The new development would not outweigh the loss of two family dwellings in a Conservation Area.  The need demonstrated in the application was for a borough-wide need, but this was in an area which should only provide significant development for local need.

·                     There was a hidden river which ran between the two roads – any recent basement developments had caused neighbouring gardens to flood, and remain flooded for some time afterwards.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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.

There were no new items of urgent business.

To note the date of the next meeting as 22 May 2023.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting was 5 June 2023.