Agenda item
Dexion House, Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0EF (Ref. 11/0142)
Decision:
(a) |
Grant Consent, subject to the referral of the application to the Mayor of London in accordance with part 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008, and subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement and to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Director of Legal and Procurement; but |
(b) |
if the legal agreement has not been entered into, or the Mayor of London remains unsatisfied with the application by the agreed Planning Performance Agreement expiry date, which at the time of writing this report is 22/04/11, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission; and |
(c) |
if the application is refused or withdrawn for the reason in (b) above to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning or other duly authorised person to grant permission in respect of a further application which is either identical to the current one, or in his opinion is not materially different, provided that (b) has been satisfied |
Minutes:
PROPOSAL: Demolition of the existing building and erection of a building ranging in height from 9 - 18 storeys and including a basement, consisting of 19,667sqm of student accommodation (providing 661 bed spaces) with associated common-room space (Use Class: sui generis); 2,499sqm of community swimming-pool and fitness facilities (Use Class D2); 530sqm commercial units: retail / financial & professional services/ restaurants / public house / takeaway (Use Class A1, A2, A3, A4, A5); with parking, cycle spaces, rooftop plant and associated landscaping. |
RECOMMENDATION: (a) Grant Consent, subject to conditions as amended in conditions 2, 7, 8, 13, 19, 22, the deletion of condition 20, the referral of the application to the Mayor of London in accordance with part 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008, and subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement and to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Director of Legal and Procurement; but
(b) if the legal agreement has not been entered into, or the Mayor of London remains unsatisfied with the application by the agreed Planning Performance Agreement expiry date, which at the time of writing this report is 22/04/11, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission; and
(c) if the application is refused or withdrawn for the reason in (b) above to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning or other duly authorised person to grant permission in respect of a further application which is either identical to the current one, or in his opinion is not materially different, provided that (b) has been satisfied. |
With reference to the tabled supplementary report, Neil McClellan (Area Planning Manager) informed the Committee that officers had assessed the Travel Plan submitted as a requirement of the Section 106 legal agreement and were satisfied that on balance the development would not result in a detrimental impact on the highway network subject to further details. He continued that with only 5 disabled parking spaces provided on site, the traffic impact of the development would not be high. In respect of the query over the number of parking spaces proposed, he confirmed that the figure had been revised from 6 to 5 as a response to the Highway Engineer’s comments. Neil McClellan clarified that the scale and height of the proposed development, had not significantly altered in scale from the scheme previously approved on site.
In addressing the concerns regarding noise and odour, he informed the Committee that the Council’s Environmental Health Officers (EHO) had considered noise nuisance and odour potential and found that, the proposal, as revised, would not cause harm to local amenities. He added that the EHO had supported the high level ventilation required under condition 26 as being sufficient to address the impact of the retail A2/A3/A5 uses. In reiterating the recommendation for approval, the Area Planning Manager drew members’ attention to a number of amendments as set out in the supplementary report.
Mr David Morris the applicant’s agent started by saying that the scheme had been revised following a thorough pre-application and post-application discussion which had resulted in a robust scheme. He stated that a Travel Plan which had been submitted as part of the Section 106 legal agreement would be further developed at the detail stage to ensure that student arrivals and exits did not conflict with major events at Wembley National Stadium and complied with accessibility policy.
In reference to the concern by The Stadium that condition 19 was inadequate to address noise levels, Mr Morris stated that that condition was considered acceptable for the previous application on site, for permanent residential accommodation and therefore could be considered acceptable for student accommodation. He then drew members’ attention to the regenerative benefits of the scheme stating that it would offer leisure facilities with no capital cost to the Council and that the retail uses proposed would enhance the vitality of the area in consonant with the Wembley Master Plan.
In response to a question by Councillor Long about ventilation, Mr Morris stated that additional designs on ventilation would be submitted at the detail stage, adding that heat generated by the swimming pool would be used as part of the energy strategy for the site. In response to Councillor Powney’s query about the 1% of the accommodation that would be constructed as wheel chair access accommodation, the agent responded that the 1% level stated in condition 13 would be in excess of requirements.
In accordance with the provisions of the Planning Code of Practice, Councillor Butt ward member stated that he had been approached by the agent. In expressing his support for the application, Councillor Butt stated that in addition to complying with parking standards and conditions, the development would be sited in an area with excellent transport links. He continued that the transport impact of the development and the concerns expressed by Wembley National Stadium would be addressed through the Travel Plan. Councillor Butt added that the provision of leisure facilities including the swimming pool for use by local schools would yield added benefits for the Borough in general and, Tokyngton ward in particular.
Members discussed the application during which Councillor Powney reiterated his queries about the disability/wheel chair access for the scheme. The Head of Area Planning drew members’ attention to condition 13 which sought to address that concern. In approving the application subject to conditions as amended and as recommended, members agreed that the level wheelchair accessible units provided upfront be set for 2% and delegated to the Head of Area Planning to determine the exact details.
DECISION: (a) Planning consent granted, subject to conditions as amended in conditions 2, 7, 8, 13, 19, 22, the deletion of condition 20, and an amendment to condition 13 setting the level wheelchair accessible units provided upfront to 2%, the referral of the application to the Mayor of London in accordance with part 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008, and subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement and to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Director of Legal and Procurement; but
(b) if the legal agreement has not been entered into, or the Mayor of London remains unsatisfied with the application by the agreed Planning Performance Agreement expiry date, which at the time of writing this report is 22/04/11, to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning, or other duly authorised person, to refuse planning permission; and
(c) if the application is refused or withdrawn for the reason in (b) above to delegate authority to the Head of Area Planning or other duly authorised person to grant permission in respect of a further application which is either identical to the current one, or in his opinion is not materially different, provided that (b) has been satisfied. |
Supporting documents: