Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs Reith and Solomon. Cllrs Browne and Hare substituted.

Demolition of existing specialist school and night club and partial demolition of existing restaurant building. Conversion of retained buildings and erection of new buildings of 3 storeys to provide replacement specialist school including community use accessed by Muswell Hill, partly accommodated within the existing vacant building at 56 Muswell Hill, 28 residential units and a ground floor retail unit at 56 Muswell Hill.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions and the signing of a s106 legal agreement.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the demolition of an existing special school and nightclub at 56 Muswell Hill and the conversion of retained buildings and construction of new buildings to provide a replacement specialist school, 28 residential units and a ground floor retail unit. 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 the signing of a s106 legal agreement.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The Committee were advised of a tabled correction to the report contained within the agenda pack. It was proposed to remove condition 8 as a repetition of condition 4. An amendment was made to the affordable housing financial contribution proposed from £275k to £365,615. A copy of a petition received in support of the construction of a new specialist school was also circulated to the Committee.

The Committee raised the following points in discussion of the application:

·        Members raised some concern regarding security in the proposed locating of residential units within a school building. Confirmation was provided that the residential units and school would have separate entrances and would be segregated internally.

·        The Committee requested clarification as to why the scheme would not be designated a car free development. Officers confirmed that the scheme would not meet the criteria for this designation in that a Controlled Parking Zone was not in place in Muswell Hill.

·        Concerns were raised over the potential for overlooking from the buildings in the new scheme onto Muswell Hill Primary School and properties on Dukes Avenue backing onto the site. Officers confirmed that a number of alterations had been made to the design following concerns from local residents including the setting back of the scheme to provide a 29-35m distance between the first floor rear windows of the new residential units and the Dukes Avenue properties and the provision of oblique views only to windows on the rear elevation. In terms of the potential for overlooking to the primary school, this would be mitigated through the variation in land levels in the area and the current landscaping screening in place.

The Head of Development Management read out a statement on behalf of the governors of Muswell Hill Primary School who were unable to attend the meeting. Following a recent meeting with the applicant, the school’s concerns regarding the risks of overlooking from the new development had been allayed. The school would support the scheme subject to a number of conditions:

·        The permanent retention of the pathway from the school to Dukes Avenue and it being retained open during the course of construction works

·        The phasing of construction works likely to cause excessive dust and/or noise to be outside of school hours

·        That HGV movements from the delivery of materials to the site be restricted during the 8.30-9am and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

A Special Planning Committee has been scheduled for 6 January 2014. 

The next ordinary Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for 13 January.