Agenda item
3 Newfield Primary School & Newfield Nursery School, Longstone Avenue & Mission Dine Club, Fry Road, London, NW10 (Ref. 10/3052)
- Meeting of Planning Committee, Wednesday 16 March 2011 7.00 pm (Item 3.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 3.
- View the background to item 3.
Decision:
Granted planning permission, subject to an appropriate form of Agreement in order to secure the measures set out in the Section 106 Details section of this report
or
If within a reasonable period the applicant fails to enter into an appropriate agreement in order to meet the policies of the Unitary Development Plan, Core Strategy and Section 106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL: Demolition of single storey building Mission Dine Community Centre and two temporary classrooms and the erection of a single and two storey extension to Newfield Primary school, creation of 2 external multi use games, 3 key stage play areas and associated hard and soft landscaping. |
RECOMMENDATION: Grant planning permission subject to conditions as amended in conditions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, an appropriate form of Agreement in order to secure the measures set out in the Section 106 Details section of this report, or; If within a reasonable period the applicant fails to enter into an appropriate agreement in order to meet the policies of the Unitary Development Plan, Core Strategy and Section 106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission. |
This application was deferred from the Planning Committee meeting held on 23 February 2011 in order to allow additional consultation to take place, specifically with the Mission Dine Community Centre who indicated that they were not aware of the planning application.
Andy Bates, the Area Planning Manager drew members’ attention to amendments to proposed conditions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 suggested by the Director of Legal and Procurement as set out in the tabled supplementary report to be attached to any permission. Subject to the above he reiterated the recommendation for approval subject to a Section 106 legal agreement.
Mr Patrick Anderson speaking in objection to the application and on behalf of Mission Dine Club (MDC) occupiers of the premises in Fry Road stated that the recommendation for approval would be contrary to the Council’s Unitary Development (UDP) Policy PPS 12 which acknowledged the need to protect the elderly and disabled persons. He continued that MDC was concerned that its removal from the Fry Road premises would be detrimental to the elderly and disabled group of persons, particularly women and children from the black minority ethnic groups. In response to a member’s question, Mr Anderson stated that MDC’s lease for the premises was not due to expire until at a later date this year.
Dame Betty Asafo-Agyei, the operator of MDC speaking in objection to the application stated that the grant of planning permission would result in a detrimental impact on the elderly and the youth who were using the club as a focal point of interaction. She referred to the successful work of MDC within the community which she said had prompted local multi-national organisations such as IKEA to provide funding. She added that although MDC had a 30 year lease of the premises, it was varied by the Council to 7 years without prior knowledge of MDC. Dame Asafo-Agyei urged members to refuse the application so as to enable MDC to carry out its charitable work to the elderly and the youth particularly from those from the minority ethnic group.
Mrs Aileen Thomas the applicant’s agent drew members’ attention to the Borough’s shortage of school places and the need for the Local Education Authority (LEA) to ensure to provide them, adding that this fact had been well documented in various reports to Committees and the Executive. She continued that the application would enable about 400 school places to be provided for children in the Borough. Mrs Thomas added that the school hall incorporated in the application could be provided as a suitable alternative for use by MDC when their lease expired in August 2011. In response to questions by Councillor Daly about negotiations with MDC and the level of commitment by the Council to ensure that MDC was afforded an alternative site, Mrs Thomas pointed out that a list of organisations offering alternative sites had been sent to MDC and that every effort would be made by the Council to continue that initiative.
The Head of Area Planning added that Property and Asset Management had advised on the efforts made by the Council to assist MDC in finding alternative premises subject to MDC providing the required information to enable the Council to progress its efforts. He recommended members to support the scheme subject to the amendments suggested by the Director of Legal and Procurement.
DECISION: Granted planning permission, subject to conditions as amended in conditions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, an appropriate form of Agreement in order to secure the measures set out in the Section 106 Details section of this report or If within a reasonable period the applicant fails to enter into an appropriate agreement in order to meet the policies of the Unitary Development Plan, Core Strategy and Section 106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission. |
Note: Councillor Adeyeye having declared an interest in the application left the meeting room and did not take part in the discussion and voting on the application.
Councillor Long having declared a prejudicial interest that she was a member of Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) Board, left the meeting room and did not take part in the discussion and voting on this item.
Supporting documents: