Decision details
19/4545 1-8 Capitol Industrial Park, Capitol Way, London, NW9 0EQ
Decision Maker: Planning Committee
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decisions:
PROPOSAL: Demolition of the existing buildings and the redevelopment of the site to provide six buildings ranging between four to twelve storeys comprising residential units and commercial floorspace, and the erection of a part two part three storey commercial building with associated basement car parking, cycle storage, plant and shared external amenity space and landscaped courtyards at ground floor level, and other ancillary works.
RECOMMENDATION: To GRANT planning permission subject to:
A. Any direction by the London Mayor pursuant to the Mayor of London Order
B. Any direction by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Consultation Direction
C. The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out within the Committee report.
That the Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement and to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives to secure the matters set out within the Committee report.
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 application "expiry date" the legal agreement has not been completed, the Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to refuse planning permission.
Ms Victoria McDonagh (Development Management Team Leader) introduced the report, outlining the key aspects of the application as set out within the main report and answered Members’ questions. She referenced the supplementary report in which members noted the applicant’s agreement for a contribution for an amount of £200,000 towards implementing a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). She drew members’ attention to a number of amended conditions requested by the agent and considered acceptable, as detailed within the supplementary report.
Mr Pravin Patel (in remote attendance) raised objections to the scheme on the following grounds:
· Excessive height of blocks A & G would be overbearing and substantially alter the character of the area.
· Loss of privacy to the occupiers of a property in Stag Lane adjacent to block G
· The entrance to upper levels of block A to/from courtyard would result in loss of residential amenities to Stag Lane residents.
· Lack of adequate infrastructure in terms of school places, doctors’ surgery, hospitals and day care facility.
· Inadequate public transport infrastructure to support the scheme.
Mr Jan Donovan (agent, in remote attendance) addressed the Committee and highlighted the following points:
· The site will deliver 501 new homes (an increase of 87 new homes from the previously consented scheme), 35% affordable housing, 60% of the affordable rented homes will be family sized, including eight 4 bedroom houses, and all of which will be at London Affordable Rent levels.
· The scheme would maintain the design principles of the consented scheme including the height of the commercial and residential blocks facing Stag Lane.
· The scheme will include 114 residential car parking spaces within the basement with 23 commercial and visitor spaces at street level, 901 new cycle spaces, two new cycle repair hubs, wide cycle bays, wash down facilities and e-bike chargers.
· The scheme included improvements proposed to the mini roundabout junction on Stag Lane/Capitol Way to enable buses to route along Capitol Way and Stag Lane in order to increase bus frequencies and improve local traffic capacity.
· The applicant had agreed to a contribution of £200,000 towards the implementation of future CPZ in the area and that the residents of the development would not be able to apply for an on-street parking permit.
· To encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of transport the applicant would contribute funds to Transport for London to provide a new bus stop adjacent to the scheme and towards the ongoing upgrade of Colindale Underground Station.
In the ensuing discussions with officers, members raised issues relating to loss of privacy, height and bulk, employment opportunities, affordable housing and tenure mix and transportation to which the following responses were noted:
· With adequate set back and separation distances and the taller blocks sited away from Stag Lane, no privacy issues would result.
· The Section 106 legal agreement provides for employment and training plans.
· The robust financial viability assessment coupled with review mechanism for uplifts concluded that the improved number of affordable housing provided was the maximum possible. A significant benefit would be that the rent level mostly within blocks A and G would be set at London Affordable Rent, in line with the Mayor of London’s Emerging Policy.
· In addition to being a car free development, the applicant had agreed to a Section 278 highway improvements and a contribution of £200,000 towards implementing CPZ in the area which had a PTAL rating of 2-3.
· With active frontages and lighting, the scheme had been designed out of crime.
With no further issues raised and having established that all members had followed the discussions, the Chair asked members to vote on the recommendation. Members voted by a majority decision to approve the application subject to the amendments set out within the supplementary report.
DECISION: Granted planning permission as recommended and amendments to conditions 5, 6, 8 – 23 (inclusive), 25, 26 and 30 as set out within the supplementary report.
(Voting on the recommendation as amended was as follows: For 6, Against 2).
Wards Affected: Queensbury;
Publication date: 24/06/2020
Date of decision: 24/06/2020
Decided at meeting: 24/06/2020 - Planning Committee
Accompanying Documents: