Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

None.

Approaches.

Councillor Kelcher informed the Committee he received a telephone call from the agent regarding the Grand Union application.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 January 2021 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

RESOLVED:-

that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13^th January 2021 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

Granted planning permission, subject to the legal agreement and conditions and informatives as set out in the original committee report, and referral of the application to the Mayor of London for his Stage 2 response.

PROPOSAL:

Hybrid planning application comprising:-

Outline planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and structures on the site, all site preparation works and redevelopment to provide new buildings to accommodate new homes (Use Class C3), flexible commercial uses, new basement level, associated cycle and vehicle parking, new vehicular accesses, associated highway works to Beresford Avenue, landscaping and creation of new public and private open space, ancillary facilitating works, various temporary meanwhile uses, interim works and infrastructure with all matters reserved - appearance, access, landscaping, layout and scale.

Detailed planning permission for Phase 3 (Buildings G, H and J) for the demolition of existing buildings and structures, all site preparation and infrastructure works and the development of new homes (Use Class C3) and flexible commercial floorspace; together with new basement level, associated storage, cycle and vehicle parking, new vehicular accesses, associated highway works to Beresford Avenue, landscaping and creation of new public and private open space, ancillary facilitating works.

RECOMMENDATION:

To resolve to grant planning permission, subject to the Stage 2 referral to the Mayor of London and subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement to secure the matters set out within the reports, the conditions and informatives recommended in this report, and to delegate authority to the Head of Planning or other duly authorised person to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Chief Legal Officer.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions to secure the matters set out within the reports.

Messrs Colin Leadbeatter, Neil Quinn and Liam McFadden (Principal Planning Officers) introduced the report, set out the key issues and answered Members’ questions.  In reference to the supplementary report, Mr Leadbeatter drew the following salient matters of clarification to Members’ attention:

·           The number of dual aspect homes would be increased to 61% within Phase 3 of the development, rather than across the outline consent.

·           The financial contribution secured under the original s106 agreement for improvements to Stonebridge Park station would be £2m not £4.6m stated.

·           To clarify, £4.6m was secured towards bus service enhancements under the original s106 agreement.

·           All trees and hedgerows have already removed under the extant Masterplan consent. 

He then outlined the various phases of the revised Masterplan that now included additional 330 homes with commensurate increase in affordable homes (35%), compliant with the emerging housing policy.  Members heard about additional communal space provisions, improvements to public open space, provision of community centre and a nursery, significantly higher landscaping and CIL contributions of £73million.

Ms Claire Hammond (Land Director of the applicant St George) addressed the Committee and answered Members’ questions on several matters including mix of tenure, affordable homes, traffic and parking.  She provided the following updates on the delivery of the proposed development:

·                Phase 1 of the scheme, well advanced, would provide 400 homes of which 114  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Granted consent subject to the referral of the application to the Mayor of London for his Stage 2 response, the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 obligation, the change to the relevant Section 106 Heads of Terms, the imposition of the planning conditions set out within the committee report as well as the additional planning condition for obscure glazed and non-opening window to the first floor of Block G as discussed in the supplementary report.

PROPOSAL:

Demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of a mixed use development of buildings ranging between 3 and 16 storeys in height, comprising residential units, flexible commercial floorspace, affordable workspaces and community use floorspace, associated car parking, landscaping and ancillary facilities (phased development)

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to the application’s referral to the Mayor of London (stage 2 referral) and the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out within the reports.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above and to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives to secure the matters set out within the reports.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the Committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the Committee.

That, if by the “expiry date” of this application (subject to any amendments /extensions to the expiry date agreed by both parties) the legal agreement has not been completed, the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to refuse planning permission.

That the Committee confirms that adequate provision has been made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees as required by Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Mr Toby Huntingford (Principal Planning Officer) introduced the report, set out the key issues and answered Members’ questions.  He referenced the Committee’s decision for refusal of the previous application, a material consideration in the assessment of the current application and, set out the headline similarities and differences between the refused and proposed applications. In reference to the supplementary report, Mr Huntingford drew Members’ attention to two additional objections that officers had addressed within the main report, the applicant’s revised proposal to address the shortfall in play space and additional planning condition for obscure glazed and non-opening window to the first floor of Block G.

Ms Balvant Mistry (objector) raised several issues of concern including the following and answered Members’ questions:

·                Overdevelopment of the area with several buildings with excessive height.

·                The cumulative impact of the overdevelopment would result in additional noise, disturbance, loss privacy, and loss of light to existing and future residents.

·                The development would worsen the traffic and parking situation in the area that would give rise to increased pollution particularly to the local Alperton Community School.

·                Lack of adequate infrastructure to support and address the impact of the proposed development.

Ms Anita Patel (objector) echoed similar issues of concern and answered Members’ questions.  Ms Patel highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Granted planning approval subject to the conditions set out in the Committee report, the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 agreement, and the Stage II referral to the Mayor of London.

PROPOSAL:

Demolition of existing building; erection of 3 buildings ranging from 3 to 7 storeys with basement, comprising 238 self-contained residential units with commercial space at ground floor level (Use Class B1, Block A only); creation of new street, associated landscaping, car and cycle parking, private and communal amenity space.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee resolve to grant planning permission subject to:

(i) Referral to the Mayor of London (stage II).

(ii) The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out within the Committee reports.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives to secure the matters set out within the Committee reports.

That the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the Committee.

That, if within 12-weeks of the date of the stage II response from the Mayor of London (assuming no objections raised/not calling the application in and subject to any amendments/extensions to the expiry date agreed by both parties) the legal agreement has not been completed, the Head of Planning is granted delegated authority to refuse planning permission.

Mr Sean Newton (Principal Planning Officer) introduced the report, set out the key issues highlighting the car free development, increase in affordable housing and answered Members’ questions.  In reference to the supplementary he advised that the number of dwellings proposed in the description of development should read 239 dwellings units (not 238) dwellings or units and the number of dwellings within Block A should read 141 (not 138).  He then drew Members’ attention to the additional objections received and officers’ responses as set out within the supplementary report.

Mr Ben Tansley (objector) raised several concerns about the proposed development including the following:

·           By the tallest part being on the edge of the site the proposal would constitute a breach of Brent’s Policy BD2 and Tall Building Strategy adding that heights should step down from the centre, not rise to the edge.

·           The proposal would be overbearing and result in overlooking and intrusion to surrounding properties, to the detriment of residential amenity.

·           The development would result in similar undesirable precedents in the area

·           The proposed private external amenity space falls short of policies without compensatory provision as the local park was about half a mile away.

·           In the interest of residential amenity, Members should condition that construction traffic should not simply avoid but must not use Temple Road  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.