Agenda item

Change of use and Refurbishment of derelict storage building into Day Nursery Use Class (D1)

RECOMMENDATION: Grant permission subject to conditions.

The Planning Officer presented the report and informed the Committee that the application site was located within the sports fields of the club formerly known as North Middlesex Cricket Club.  The site was bounded by 171-191 Park Road, there was existing vehicular access from Park Road.  The building that was part of the planning application was currently used for storage.

The planning officer further stated that the day nursery was once housed in the main pavilion/changing room building on the north side of the cricket ground.  An application in 2007, sought permission to house the nursery in a new building on the side of the storage building.  This was refused on the grounds that a new building was an inappropriate development in the Metropolitan Open Land (MOL).  It was also noted that on the temporary closure of the day nursery, there was concern about the non-availability of this facility which was a benefit to local parents, carers and young children.

The Committee was advised by the officer that the proposal was a conversion and not a new build, and would have no greater impact on the MOL than if the building continued to be used as a storage building.  The existing building was capable of a conversion without major or complete reconstruction and would not have a materially greater impact, or conflict with the openness of the MOL.  To overcome concerns about disturbance to nearby residents, an acoustic panel would be erected, directly behind the panel would be some planting to avoid any visual impact to neighbours and there would also be conditions to regulate hours of use.  Car parking provision was at the front entrance of the site off Park Road.

A representative from the Cricket Club addressed the Committee to object to the application on the grounds that the application was submitted on behalf of the Cricket Club which it was not.  The proposed building was not considered to be derelict as it was currently used to hold equipment and it was not possible to house the machinery elsewhere on the site.  There was no access for this machinery to get near other buildings on the site which were derelict.  It was believed that if the proposed building was turned into a nursery then another application would need to be submitted to house the machinery as the cricket club would fail as there would be no means to maintain the grounds.

Two local residents informed the Committee that there was no evidence within the application to support the need for a nursery as there were three other nurseries in the area.  An application for this building was previously refused and Inspectors had also agreed with the Committee’s decision to refuse the application.  The pavilion was not suitable to be used as a nursery, there was no evidence that a nursery was required in the area and no specific circumstances to warrant the proposal.

The Committee viewed the plans.

Members enquired about particular uses for MOL and whether the proposed application would overall affect the designation of the site.  The Committee was advised that under PBG2 policy it was not specified that a nursery could not be put onto MOL and would not affect the openness of the land.  It was not the intention to change the status of the MOL and the proposed scheme would not erode the MOL to an extent that it no longer had this status.  The Committee made further enquiries about the play area for the nursery and whether they would have use of the playing field.  In response the Committee was advised that the operation of the nursery would take note of the operation of the playing field.  The day nursery would replace the surface of the play area suitable for children.

The Assistant Director of Planning, advised the Committee that the proposed application would not contravene policies which protect the MOL.  The Committee could defer consideration of the application to ensure that it was an essential use on MOL.

The Chair moved a motion to change the use and refurbishment of the derelict storage building into a Day Nursery and grant permission subject to conditions. 

RESOLVED

That the application be refused as it was incompatible with the open sports use of the ground.

INFORMATION RELATING TO APPLICATION REF: HGY/2008/1743

FOR PLANNING COMMITTEE DATED 02/12/2008

Location: 185A Park Road N8

Proposal: Change of use and Refurbishment of derelict storage building into Day Nursery Use Class (D1).

Recommendation: Grant subject to conditions

Decision: Refused

Drawing No’s: SYN/01 & 02.

Reason:

1.         The proposed nursery use to be accommodated within a storage building would amount to inappropriate development, for which there is no very special circumstances demonstrated, in terms of Metropolitan Open Land, and which would in turn generate a need for additional ancillary storage buildings which would be visually intrusive and detrimental to the open setting of the sports field. As such the proposal is considered to be contrary to Haringey Policies OS2 'Metropolitan Open Land' and UD3 'General Principles' of the adopted Haringey Unitary Development Plan 2006.

Section 106: No