Agenda item
20/0967 Wembley Park Station Car Park and Train Crew Centre, Brook Avenue, Wembley, HA
Decision:
Granted consent, subject to the Section 106 heads of terms as amended in the supplementary report, conditions and informatives as set out in the committee report and subject to the Stage 2 referral of the application to the Mayor of London.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment of the site comprising the phased demolition of the existing buildings and structures on site and the phased development comprising site preparation works, provision of five new buildings containing residential uses, replacement train crew accommodation and flexible retail floorspace, basement, private and communal amenity space, associated car parking (including the part re-provision of station car parking), cycle parking,
refuse storage, plant and other associated works.
RECOMMENDATION:
GRANT planning permission subject to referral to the Mayor of London (stage II referral) and the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out within the Committee reports.
That the Head of Planning be 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 Committee reports.
That the Head of Planning be 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 be 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, setting out the key issues and answered Members’ questions. He referenced the supplementary report that informed of additional objections and added that they did not raise new issues. He drew Members’ attention to the amendment to the Heads of terms of the Section 106 legal agreement.
Ms Nicoleta Benga objected to the grant of planning permission for reasons including the following:
· The proposed development would add to overcrowding of the nearby public park in an area that was already “deficient” of open space as outlined in the objectors’ section of the main report.
· The proposal would cause parking and traffic congestion particularly on Brook Avenue despite being a car free development and the anticipated consultation for the introduction of CPZ.
· The proposed tall blocks would cause overshadowing and loss of light to existing homes, including nearby Matthews Close.
Mr Phillip Grant (objector) raised several issues including the following:
The application site would be inappropriate for tall buildings in breach of policy SPD1. He continued that the proposed 454 homes constituted an over-intensive use of the site within a residential area site and in his view the site could accommodate no more than 300 homes.
Councillor Kennelly (ward member) welcomed the proposal in particular the opportunity to increase housing provision by delivering 40% affordable housing however, he emphasised the need for the Committee to consider the views of local residents on the proposal. These included the scheme not being in keeping with the local area, amplifying the challenges that the community faced on Brook Avenue including parking, traffic congestion, pollution, anti- social behaviour and excessive height. He referred to Block E that local residents considered excessively high and urged the Committee to consider carefully the benefits of keeping the development in line with the local area in particular in line with the height of the neighbouring “Smith” Block on St. Matthew’s Close.
Councillor Kansagra stated that he had not been approached in connection with the application. He echoed the views expressed by Mr Grant and added his objections to the application for several reasons including the following;
· The excessive eight of the scheme was a departure from the Wembley Area Action Plan (WAAP).
· Detrimental impact on the residential amenities of existing and future residents.
· The loss of Wembley Park station car park resulting in an increase in parking and traffic congestion on Brook Avenue.
· The possible introduction of CPZ would result in parking displacement in nearby streets.
Ms Katie Savin-Taylor (agent) addressed the Committee and answered Members’ questions. She outlined the benefits of the scheme including the provision of 454 new homes, of which 40% will be affordable by habitable room, a new flexible retail space and train crew accommodation and public realm along Brook Avenue. She continued that the applicant had worked with the CABE Design Review Panel and local community in order to create this exciting new addition to Wembley Park. Members heard that in response to the consultation, the applicant made a number of changes including the following:
• A reduction in the maximum height from 30 to 21 storeys;
• An increased number of affordable rented units, directly addressing Brent’s housing needs; and,
• The creation of an enhanced and widened public realm along Brook Avenue.
In response to Members’ questions, the agent submitted the following answers:
· The scheme would be ‘car free’ for new residents, with the exception of 14 accessible blue badge spaces, encouraging sustainable transport movements.
· Officers had addressed service and delivery facilities in the main report.
· The application complied with the site allocation and its impact assessment was considered appropriate with the emerging Local Plan.
During question time, members raised issues mainly relating to the height of the scheme, parking and traffic impact. Officers responded that the application complied with the Local Plan and Emerging Plan for the Wembley Park area which was now considered a “tall buildings” zone. The height, which would vary from 21 to 13 storeys, would maintain an acceptable relationship with Matthew Close and maintain the evolving character of the area. They added that a survey undertaken in February 2020 confirmed a modest use of the existing car park and thus the parking provision including disabled spaces coupled with permit restriction and the possible introduction of CPZ would ensure that the scheme would not give rise to parking problems. Officers referenced the sustainable measures including the Travel Plan, provision of cycle spaces and the free 3-year car club membership for residents.
With no further issues raised and having established that all members had followed the discussions, the Chair thanked all speakers for their contributions and asked members to vote on the recommendation. Members voted by a majority decision to approve the application.
DECISION: Granted consent, subject to the Section 106 heads of terms as amended in the supplementary report, conditions and informatives as set out in the committee report and subject to the Stage 2 referral of the application to the Mayor of London.
(Voting on the decision was as follows: For 7; Against 1)
Supporting documents:
- 20.0967 Wembley park station and brook ave, item 3. PDF 626 KB
- 20.0967 Supp Wembley Park, item 3. PDF 95 KB