Issue - meetings

Granted planning permission subject to:

(1)        The applications referral to the Mayor of London (Stage 2 referral) and the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as detailed in the main and updated within the supplementary committee report.

(2)        The conditions and informatives, as detailed in the main and amended within the supplementary committee report.

PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing building and basements and replacement with mixed-use development (26,677 sq. m GIA) incorporating 22 storey building and 3 basements, comprising: flexible light industrial (Class E)/B8 employment space (in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 2 (Class V) of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended)); Class C1 Hotel (including ancillary gym, spa and swimming pool); Class F.1 Conference Centre; Class F.2 community hall; basement car parking accessed from Oxgate Lane; cycle parking; internal service yard; coach drop-off lay-by; management and back of house areas; plant; roof garden and outdoor terraces;public realm improvements and associated works.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)  Stage 2 referral to the Mayor of London along with the prior completion of a satisfactory s106 legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as detailed within the report; and

(2)  The conditions and informatives as set out in the main Committee report.

Damian Manhertz (Development Management Area Manager) introduced the planning application committee report, detailing the proposal for the demolition of the existing building and its replacement with a maximum 22-storey building, with an employment focused mixed-use development amounting to 26,677 sq. m GIA.

Attention was then drawn to the supplementary report, detailing a number of amendments to the main committee report following initial publication. The recommendation remained to grant consent subject to the conditions and heads of terms, as contained in the main committee report.

The Chair thanked Damian Manhertz for introducing the report. As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair then invited Justin Mills (who had registered to speak as the applicant’s representative) to address the Committee in relation to the application, who highlighted the following points:

• A commitment to establishing a policy-compliant mixed-use development at the heart of the new Staples Corner community was highlighted by the applicant’s representative.  As one of the initial development proposals within the new Growth Area, it was noted that the scheme was intended to act as a catalyst for future development, setting a high-quality benchmark for subsequent projects.

• The proposal aimed to replace an unused and dilapidated building with a high-quality landmark development, capable of making a positive contribution to the character of the area, thereby creating a new gateway to Brent. Close collaboration with the Council's officers ensured that the proposed mix of uses, as well as the scale, massing, and design of the development, were appropriate and aligned with the vision for the area as outlined in the Local Plan and the more recent Masterplan.

• The development was expected to contribute to the local economy through the provision of modern, flexible employment space, capable of accommodating approximately 300 new jobs. This space was designed to meet the needs of smaller businesses and was anticipated to operate as managed workspace, attractive to a range of enterprises.

• At the core of the development was a large community space designed to accommodate a variety of events and activities. It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6