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 Nicola Bartlett.

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 11 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 Emine Ibrahim referred to item 8 and informed the Committee that she was a Ward Councillor for Noel Park where this redevelopment proposal was based. She expressed that she did not have a personal, prejudicial, or pecuniary interest. She was not biased in favour of a particular outcome and would be considering this item as a Committee Member with an open mind.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 11^th September as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 11^th September 2023as a correct record.

The following items are pre-application presentations to the Planning Sub-Committee and discussion of proposals.

Notwithstanding that this is a formal meeting of the Sub-Committee, no decision will be taken on the following items and any subsequent applications will be the subject of a report to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee in accordance with standard procedures.

The provisions of the Localism Act 2011 specifically provide that a Councillor should not be regarded as having a closed mind simply because they previously did or said something that, directly or indirectly, indicated what view they might take in relation to any particular matter.  Pre-application briefings provide the opportunity for Members to raise queries and identify any concerns about proposals.

The Members’ Code of Conduct and the Planning Protocol 2016 continue to apply for pre-application meeting proposals even though Members will not be exercising the statutory function of determining an application.  Members should nevertheless ensure that they are not seen to pre-determine or close their mind to any such proposal otherwise they will be precluded from participating in determining the application or leave any decision in which they have subsequently participated open to c

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

Proposal: Redevelopment of the Mecca Bingo site to create a mixed-use development consisting of a Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) block on Lordship Lane with associated facilities/amenity space; commercial / Town Centre floorspace space at ground floor level; affordable purpose built housing block and town houses and; communal amenity space and public realm.

Valerie Okeiyi, Principal Planning Officer introduced the Pre-application report for the redevelopment of the Mecca Bingo site to create a mixed-use development consisting of a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) block on Lordship Lane with associated facilities/amenity space; commercial / Town Centre floor space at ground floor level; affordable purpose-built housing block and town houses and communal amenity space and public realm.

The Chair invited the applicant team to introduce the presentation.

The following was noted:

• The design of the building sought to provide a mix of student accommodation and new affordable housing on the site. This had progressed through discussions with both the planning officer and housing officers to ensure that the design had meet all the requirements.
• In terms of the height of the building, the building had been designed to ensure protection was provided where needed. There were also other buildings on Lordship Lane, which followed a similar height pattern.
• The Committee noted that the site was designated in the development plan as an area which was suitable for tall buildings.
• In terms of the pocket park, there were discussions with the landscape architects to design the park to create a more open and visible route, to ensure that safety was promoted throughout the park.
• The Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Operator would be responsible for the maintenance of the pocket park.
• The play area for children would be spread between the pocket park and private courtyards.
• In terms of the architectural design of the scheme, there would be an urban design on the Wood Green side, and as you followed the site through to the South towards Noel Park, you would see more of a historical design. The officers advised that this was a work in progress and the design would be refined further.
• In terms of dual aspect, this was one of the housing design requirements in London, to provide 100% dual aspect buildings. The proposed design had achieved 100% dual aspect across every residential unit onsite.
• The entire site would be designed with full accessibility to meet the needs of diverse types of users including people with disabilities.

The following was noted in response to questions from the Committee:

• The Committee raised concerns about how the redevelopment of Mecca Bingo would affect the local people as the site provided hot food at discounted rates, as well as keep older people out of isolation by keeping them socially active.
• The Committee was advised that the lease of the Mecca Bingo was due to expire in September 2026. They had decided not to renew their lease as maintenance costs were high and their business model was not effective with the current changes in the demographics in the borough.
• The Council was in consultation with Mecca Bingo regarding relocation to another site in the borough, however the company declined the opportunity.
• The Committee raised concerns about the proposed design, as the social housing element would look different from the other housing. The Committee was advised that the reason for this  ...  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.

The following was noted in response to questions from the Committee:

• The latest update on the Highgate School application was that there had been a community meeting, and the school was looking at addressing feedback received and had agreed to conduct a workshop for this.
• The Committee queried about timescales for the Omega Works application. The officers advised that the timescales were unclear, as concerns had been raised and a response had not been provided to the appropriate officers.
• In terms of the applications for Omega Works, there would be two separate applications to be considered together.
• Regarding Reynardson Court redevelopment, the Housing Team would be conducting engagement work with local residents as it was noted that some residents were concerned about this redevelopment.
• Regarding Osborne Grove Nursing Home, this application was currently on hold and a revised proposal had not been submitted to bring this forward.

RESOLVED

To note the report.

There were no new items of urgent business.

To note the date of the next meeting as 6^th November.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting was 6 November 2023. There would be an addition meeting on 28 November 2023.