Issue - meetings

Granted 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, and the conditions and informatives as detailed in the Committee report and supplementary report. In addition the Committee requested that a further informative was added that the applicant was strongly encouraged to obtain “Secured by Design” accreditation for the development.

PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing building and erection of building for use as a purpose-built Further Education College Campus of up to 8 storeys high with associated plant at roof level, provision of hard and soft landscaping and cycle parking facilities, loading bay and accessible parking bays on Rutherford Road frontage and drop off bay on Fulton Road

RECOMMENDATION~:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)  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 as laid out in the Committee report.

(2)  That the Head of Planning is delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

(3)  That the Head of Planning is 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.

Lena Summers, Planning Officer, North Area Planning Team, introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report members were advised that the existing site located between Olympic Way and Rutherford Way was currently occupied by an eight-storey office building with associated car parking and soft landscaping. The site formed part of the Wembley Growth Area and part of a site allocation within the Local Plan 2019-2041. The allocated use was for mixed use main town centre uses, education/campus or residential incorporating flexible retail uses and leisure and community uses at ground floor level. The site was within the Wembley Town Centre boundary and the Tall Building Zone.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the supplementary agenda that provided information in response to the comments received from Wembley Stadium in relation to the consideration of the operational requirements of the stadium. Following the comments raised, amendments had been made to Conditions 11, 23 and 24 as detailed in the report.

The Chair thanked Lena Summers for introducing the report, as there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair invited the applicant Stephen Davis, Chief Executive of United Colleges, supported by Jonathan Bainbridge (agent) to address the Committee (in person) in relation to the application. The following key points were highlighted:

• The College of North West London had been active in Brent as a key further education provider for 130 years and was recognised as a well-established community asset in Brent.
• The college formed part of the wider portfolio of United Colleges Group education settings.
• It was felt that to continue its trajectory in providing a broad reach of education and training needs to both Brent residents and students from further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5