Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Carter and Rice. Cllrs Elliott and Sahota respectively substituted.

Cllr Basu arrived at the meeting late and as such did not take part in the determination of item 7, Whitbread Close.

Cllr Patterson identified that he was a Alexandra ward councillor and also a member of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee but confirmed that he had not expressed any view on the item 9.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Planning Sub Committee held on 19 January.

RESOLVED

·         That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 19 January be approved.

Infill development of 4 x dwelling units on existing car parking area

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the infill development of 4x dwelling units on an existing parking area. 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.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The attention of the Committee was drawn to a tabled addendum setting out an amended site plan and rewording of condition 2.

Cllr Strickland addressed the Committee in his capacity as Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration and identified that the application, in addition to item 8, constituted the first batch of the Council’s new build programme for infill sites with shared ownership tenure. The application would bring an underused site back into use through the construction of well designed, high quality dwellings built to Lifetime Home standards and with shared ownership tenure which was of high demand in the area. 

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

·         Officers advised that the key change made to the application following the Design Review process had been a reduction to the building height of a storey.

·         Confirmation was provided that secure cycle parking facilities would be located within the site curtilage. The applicant confirmed that it would be feasible to reconfigure the shed currently onsite as part of this provision.

·         Clarification was provided that although the application was CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) liable, it would be eligible for relief as an affordable housing scheme.

·         It was confirmed that the development would be served by a central satellite reception system and that restrictions were imposed under condition 5 to prevent the proliferation of satellite dishes.  

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report and it was

RESOLVED

·         That planning application HGY/2014/3509 be approved subject to conditions.

1.         The development hereby authorised must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission, failing which the permission shall be of no effect.

Reason: This condition is imposed by virtue of the provisions of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and to prevent the accumulation of unimplemented planning permissions.

2.         The development hereby authorised shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and specifications: 5429-11-1000 Rev A; 5429-11-1010 Rev A; 5429-11-1100 Rev A; 5429-11-1200 Rev A; 5429-11-1250 Rev A; 5429-11-1800; 5429-11-1900; Design and Access Statement (Dec 2014); Transport Note (June 2014); Ground Investigation Report; Overshadowing Report (May 2014); Daylight Factor Calculations (May 2014).

Reason: In order to avoid doubt and in the interests of good planning.

3.         Notwithstanding the information submitted with this application, no development shall take place until precise details of the external materials to be used in connection with the development hereby permitted be submitted to, approved in writing by and implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Local Planning Authority and retained as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Construction of 5 new dwelling units on existing parking area

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission for the construction of 5 new dwelling units on an existing parking area. 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.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The attention of the Committee was drawn to a tabled addendum setting out an amendment to paragraph 6.5.3 of the report to outline that the 1 bed units would not have access to external amenity space. Officers considered this acceptable due to the floorspace, design and public open space provision in the locality.

An objector to the application addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         The Council did not publically provide a standard guide covering the development of infill sites.

·         No density analysis had been provided.

·         The design would be overly dominant in the street scene, would be located very close to adjoining properties and site boundaries and would have a building height out of line with existing buildings in the area.     

·         Concerns were expressed that the new properties and gardens would be impacted by overshadowing.

·         No noise assessment had been undertaken on the impact of the adjacent petrol station on the new dwellings.

·         Decent Homes capital works were scheduled simultaneously in the area and would add to the disruption from construction works caused to local people.

Cllr Strickland and a representative for the applicant addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         The scheme sought to maximise the use of the site for housing and would provide a range of dwellings including 3 bed units. All dwellings would exceed London Plan space standards.

·         Daylight and sunlight assessments had been undertaken for the scheme and the results considered acceptable.

·         The planned Decent Homes works and the current application reflected the investment being made in the area by the Council.

·         The front boundary would mirror the current building line and be set back from the road.

·         The height of the units and proposed external materials would reflect and complement other buildings in the area.

·         The scheme met accepted standards with regards to daylight and sunlight. 

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report and it was

RESOLVED

·         That planning application HGY/2014/3510 be approved subject to conditions.

1.   The development hereby authorised must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission, failing which the permission shall be of no effect.

Reason: This condition is imposed by virtue of the provisions of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and to prevent the accumulation of unimplemented planning permissions.

2.   The development hereby authorised shall be carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to, and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Those being:

      5429-06-1000; 5429-06-1010; 5429-06-1100; 5429-06-1200; 5429-06-1201; 5429-06-1250; 5429-06-1260; 5429-06-1800; 5429-06-1801; 5429-06-1900; Daylight Factor Calculations by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Proposal 1: Planning permission for repair and refurbishment of the eastern end of Alexandra Palace, comprising the East Court, the former BBC Studios and the Victorian Theatre including the re-landscaping of the East Car Park. Works will include removal of brick infill along South Terrace and removal of some internal walls

RECOMMENDATION: to grant planning permission subject to conditions and subject to completion of an agreement under s111 Legal Agreement to secure the payment of the Travel Plan monitoring costs.

Proposal 2: Listed Building Consent for Listed Building Consent for repair and refurbishment of the eastern end of Alexandra Palace, comprising the East Court, the former BBC Studios and the Victorian Theatre including the re-landscaping of the East Car Park. Works will include removal of brick infill along South Terrace and removal of some internal walls.

RECOMMENDATION: to grant Listed Building Consent subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report on the application to grant planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the repair and refurbishment of the eastern end of Alexandra Palace, comprising the East Court, the former BBC studios and the Victorian Theatre. 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 planning permission subject to conditions and completion of a s111 legal agreement and grant Listed Building Consent subject to conditions.

The planning officer gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report. The attention of the Committee was drawn to a tabled addendum setting out amended planning permission conditions covering a travel plan; theatre event management plan; service and delivery plan; archaeology; local employment; energy statement; ecology and tree protection. The Committee were also advised of an amendment to the Listed Building Consent recommendation following further legal advice and which should read ‘that the Committee resolves to endorse the application for Listed Building Consent and recommends that it be submitted to the Secretary for State for Communities and Local Government as an application for Listed Building Consent and to invite the Secretary of State to consider imposing the conditions as set out in the report as amended and added to by this addendum’. Details were also provided of additional representations received since the publication of the agenda including the submission of an online petition.

A number of objectors addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         Overall support was expressed by the objectors to the vast majority of the scheme.

·         The primary reservations against the scheme concerned the plans for the former BBC studios, in particular proposals to change their fabric through the demolition of internal walls and opening up of bricked in colonnades. It was asserted that this would in essence destroy the studios by fundamentally changing the nature of the space and devalue the historical and heritage importance of these features and the story they told about the history of television broadcasting. The proposed physical changes to the studios would remove the opportunity for visitors to experience the space as originally conceived and used and instead have to rely on a audiovisual exhibition.

·         The importance of the blocked in colonnades was emphasised, with the balcony space originally used as adjuncts to the studios, thereby playing a fundamental role in the history of the Palace as the birthplace of television. It was recognised they although many considered the infills ‘ugly’, they remained historically important. Concerns were expressed that the applicant had not properly studied or taken into account evidence of the heritage significance of the blocked in arches. It was considered that the 4 bricked in arches to the studios be retained for heritage reasons, an approach supported by a number of national bodies such as the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society (GLIAS).

·         It was considered that although the studios were in a dangerous condition, they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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 Committee considered an update on major planning proposals in the pipeline.

Officers noted that a response remained outstanding to Cllr Rice’s request at the last meeting for additional details of the Lea Valley Techno Park application.

RESOLVED

·         That the update be noted.

To advise of decisions taken under delegated powers between 1 January and 31 January 2015.

The Committee considered an update report on applications determined under delegated powers between 1 and 31 January 2015.

RESOLVED

·         That the report be noted.

Special Planning Committee 5 March.

Special Planning Committee 5 March.